Investigation for Modification of Road Bitumen with Nanocarbon Materials

Abstract

This paper presents methods for the production of nanoscale coke powders for bitumen modification. The chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method enables the production of nanopowders with particle sizes ranging from 14 to 30 nm at temperatures of 1000–1200 ^oC. Bitumen modification was performed by adding nanoscale coke powders, in accordance with the requirements of Kazakhstan standard 1373–2013. The nanosized powders were obtained by CVD in an inert nitrogen atmosphere with a specific surface area of 24.8 m²/g. Modification of bitumen with nanoscale coke yields grades with high thermal stability, ensuring optimal structural strength and durability of the pavement. Rheological studies show that nanoscale coke acts as an active structure-forming agent rather than an inert filler. The restriction of asphaltene mobility leads to a consistently reduced phase angle (δ) and the absence of a transition to a viscosity-dominated regime. The samples are characterized by the lowest phase angle values across the entire range of the complex modulus. This indicates the formation of a highly developed elastic-viscous structure due to the presence of nanosized coke, which promotes the formation of a percolating physical network and restricts the mobility of the bituminous system. The observed behavior indicates the dominance of the elastic component and the increased structural organization of the resulting bituminous binders.