Assessing the Effect of Organic, Inorganic, and Hybrid Phase Change Materials on Thermal Regulation and Energy Efficiency in Asphalt Pavements—A Review

Harnessing the power of phase change materials (PCMs) in asphalt pavements proposes a sustainable solution for addressing temperature-related issues, affording more robust and energy-efficient infrastructure. PCMs hold enormous potential for reforming various industries due to their ability to store and release large amounts of thermal energy, offering noteworthy benefits in energy efficiency, thermal management, and sustainability. The integration of PCMs within pavements presents an increasingly exciting field of research. PCMs have the ability to efficiently manage the changes in and distribution of temperature in asphalt pavements via the release and absorption of latent heat that occurs during the phase shifts of PCMs. Asphalt pavements experience less severe temperatures and a slower rate of temperature fluctuation as a result of this, which in turn reduces the amount of stress caused by temperature. In addition, the function of temperature adjustment that PCMs provide is natural, intelligent, and in line with the direction in which the development of smart pavements is heading in the future. This study aims to explore the impact of organic, inorganic, and mixed organic–inorganic PCMs on diverse surface characteristics of asphalt. In addition, this review addresses current challenges associated with using PCMs in asphalt and explores potential advantages that could facilitate future research in addition to broadening the implementation of PCMs in construction.