Geo-China 2016 GSP 262 155

A Modification Mechanism Study of Buton Natural Rock Asphalt in a Matrix

Asphalt and Asphalt Mixture
Jinjin Shi1; Yingbiao Wu1; Jinyan Liu2; and Zhao Wen2
1
Engineer, Cangzhou Municipal Engineering Company Limited, 21 Huanghe Rd., Cangzhou 061000, P.R.
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China. E-mail: czszjsk@126.com

1
Senior Engineer, Cangzhou Municipal Engineering Company Limited, 21 Huanghe Rd., Cangzhou
061000, P.R. China. E-mail: czszjsk@126.com
2
Engineer, Cangzhou Municipal Engineering Company Limited, 21 Huanghe Rd., Cangzhou 061000, P.R.
China. E-mail: czszjsk@126.com
2
Engineer, Cangzhou Municipal Engineering Company Limited, 21 Huanghe Rd., Cangzhou 061000, P.R.
China. E-mail: czszjsk@126.com

Abstract: Embedded in the seabed, Budon natural rock asphalt (BRA) is one type of
minerals with Paleozoic oil penetrated into the rock stratum. It has withstood
compression due to geological movement, and becomes an excellent asphalt modifier
because of its high asphalt content and plentiful micropores. Usually, BRA consists of
25% to 30% of bitumen and 70% to 75% of natural mineral. Through the testing of using
20% and 25% BRA as a substitute for A-level 70 matrix asphalt, it was found that BRA
not only increases the penetration depth, softening point, and viscosity of asphalt mixture,
but also improves the temperature stability. Since BRA contains high-alkali minerals that
have high ionic adsorption ability, it is possible to enhance the adhesion between binder
and aggregate, and to improve the resistance of moisture susceptibility. In this study, it is
concluded that the effects of BRA modification are better those of SBS because BRA has
higher durability and better performance in antioxidant ability, anti-aging ability and
durability.
INTRODUTION
Embedded in the seabed, rock asphalt is one type of minerals with Paleozoic oil
penetrated into the rock stratum. It has withstood compression due to geological
movement, and becomes an excellent asphalt modifier. As a wax-free construction
material that has been widely used in the roadway construction industry around the world,
rock asphalt not only has high softening point, nitrogen content, and viscosity, but also
good oxidation resistance, water sensitivity, and durability. These are the properties that
lead to good structural and functional performance. Usually, rock asphalt is used as
asphalt modifier to improve the performance of asphalt pavement.
Budon rock asphalt (BRA) is a kind of rock asphalt that is produced in Budon, an island
in Indonesia located off the southeast peninsula of Sulawesi. After having withstood
pressure and geological movement in the seabed for a long period of time, viscous
asphalt and highly active minerals together form the rock asphalt. Due to its good
performance and low price, the use of BRA has been increasing in recent years.

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 Geo-China 2016 GSP 262 156

1 Material properties of BRA

1.1 BRA's composition

1. Budon rock asphalt is a dark-brown, solid powdery material with no special smell at
the room temperature. The asphalt content of BRA is calculated by the burning method
and fat extraction method. The results show that BRA contains about 25% to 30% of
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bitumen with high asphaltene content and 70% to 75% of natural minerals that have a
certain gradation with a maximum particle diameter of 1.18mm.

Figure 1 Appearance of BRA

Figure 2 XRD patterns of mineral composition in BRA

In order to explore the mineral composition of BRA, the XRD diffraction test and the
X-ray fluorescence spectrometry were conducted. The pattern of mineral composition in
BRA from the XRD diffraction test is shown in Figure 2. Diffraction results show that
BRA minerals are mainly calcium carbonates, calcium sulfates, silica, alumina oxide,
magnesium carbonate, iron oxide and a small amount of sodium oxide, potassium oxide,
boron oxide, strontium oxide, titanium oxide and other metal elements. The mineral
composition analysis was also conducted using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The
results are shown in Table 1.

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To be more specific, acidic oxide (SiO2，Fe2O3，P2O5，TiO2) and neutral oxide (Al2O3)

account for 10.447% and 3.2% of BRA minerals, respectively, while the alkaline
substance (CaCO3，MgCO3) consists of 76% of BRA. Accordingly, minerals in BRA are
mostly alkaline substances, which may increase the ion adsorption capacity of the asphalt
mixture. Since asphalt and alkaline stone have good adhesion abilities, the presence of
highly-alkalized substance can greatly enhance the adhesion between asphalt and
aggregate.

1.2 BRA Micromorphology Analysis

In order to perform an in-depth analysis of material characteristics, the environmental
scanning electron microscope (ESEM) was utilized to test the micromorphology of the
BRA material. The test results are shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4.

Figure 3 BRA 400.0 mμ ESEM Figure 4 BRA 50.0 mμ ESEM

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The microscopic photo taken by ESEM shows that the BRA particle has high porosity,
rough surface, large surface area, and high degree of crystallinity. Therefore, it can be
concluded that BRA minerals have good asphalt-adsorption ability. In addition, numerous
black deposits from the photo indicate that both the particle surface and minerals inside
BRA are good at adsorbing pure asphalt with high viscosity, forming a "asphalt - mineral"
system. After millions of years of deposition, adsorption and integration, BRA is more
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stable than the ordinary asphalt slag mortar, and has better performance in adhesion and
anti-stripping.

2 BRA’s modified effect on asphalt binders

To explore the performance of asphalt binder after the addition of BRA, we added 20%
BRA into A grade 70 matrix asphalt, and conducted performance tests related to the
asphalt binder. The results are shown in Table 2.

Table 2. Performance comparsion between matrix asphalt and BRA

A grade 70 SBS modified
Asphalt Type A grade 70 Adding asphalt asphalt
Item matrix asphalt 20%BRA technical technical
specification specification
Water content(%) / 0.89 / /
Penetration Index (mm) 70 46.5 60-80 40-60
Softening point (℃) 46.5 51.5 ≥46 ≥60
＞100 20 ≥100 ≥20
ductility (cm)
（15℃） （15℃） （15℃） （5℃）
Burning Method
26.05 / /
Asphalt Content(%)
Fat Extraction Method
24.3 / /
Asphalt Content (%)

The data in the table above shows that after the BRA is added, the penetration depth as
well as the ductility of asphalt binder both decrease, while the softening point increases.
Therefore, its basic indicators meet the technical standard of SBS-modified asphalt.
Moreover, high colloid and asphaltene content from BRA can significantly improve the
high-temperature performance, the stability and the temperature sensitivity of asphalt
binder.

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 Geo-China 2016 GSP 262 159

3 Effects of BRA on the Performance of Asphalt Mixture

To understand the effects of BRA on the performance of asphalt mixture, according to

"Highway Engineering Asphalt and Asphalt Test Procedures" (JTJ 052-2000), we carried
out the Marshall test, the rutting test, the immersion Marshall and freeze-thaw splitting
test by varying the content of rock asphalt mixtures to analyze the variation law on high
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temperature performance, the water stability and the low-temperature performance.

The type of asphalt mixture used for the test is AC-13, and its asphalt-aggregate ratio is
about 1:204. Asphalt in BRA was replaced with 20% and 25% of A grade 70 asphalt with
the ratio of 1: 1. Besides, BRA and other natural minerals were included in the aggregate
composition, replacing part of the slag filler and accounting for 3 to 4% of the mineral
aggregate. The test results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Different amount of BRA’s effect on mixture pavement preformance

AC-13
Mixture type A BRA BRA technical
SBS
grade replaced replaced specification
Item modified
70 20% 25%
asphalt
asphalt asphalt asphalt
Bulk Volume
2.518 2.510 2.498 2.488 /
Density (g/cm3)
Void Content（%） 4.2 4.3 4.1 4.5 4～6
Stability（kN） 15.0 19.2 23.6 25.4 ≥8
Flow Value(mm) 2.4 2.2 1.6 1.5 1.5～4
Dynamic Stability
1086 8750 15000 17500 ≥1000
(cycles/min)
Residual Stability
89.0 91.7 92.2 93.6 ≥75
（%）
Thawing Freeze 88. 97. 97.
91.6 ≥70
Tear Strength Ratio（%） 2 4 9
18℃
Low Freeze for
Temperature 16h Press / /
24.6 36.5 42.3
Performance machine
Experiment Estimated
Value(KN)

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Figure 5 Four kinds of Mixture Comparison of Marshall stability

Figure 6 Four kinds of Mixture Comparison of High Temperature Performance

Figure 7 Four kinds of Mixture Comparison of Water Stability

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Figure 8 Four kinds of Mixture Comparison of Low Temperature Performance

According to Table 3, and Figure 5 to 8, conclusions can be made as follows:
⑴ After BRA is added, the Marshall stability increases and the flow value decreases,
when compared with the conventional asphalt mixture, and SBS modified asphalt. With
the increase in BRA content, the Marshall stability value increases.
⑵ After BRA is added, the dynamic stability of asphalt mixture is higher than the
conventional asphalt mixture by 12.8 to 15 times, and also higher than the SBS modified
asphalt mixture by nearly 2 times. Thus, adding BRA can significantly improve the
high-temperature stability of the mixture.
⑶ The water stability of BRA mixture is superior to the conventional as well as the
SBS modified asphalt mixture. Moreover, the Marshall mix residual stability of BRA
mixture is higher than that of the conventional asphalt by 3.6% to 5.2%. Third, thawing
freeze tear strength ratio (TSR) of BRA is higher than that of the conventional asphalt
mixture by 10.3% to 11%.
⑷ Low-temperature performance of BRA mixture outperforms those of conventional
and SBS modified asphalt mixtures.
Through a comprehensive analysis of different performance tests, the BRA modifier was
shown to significantly improve the temperature performance, the water stability and the
low-temperature performance of asphalt mixture. In general, its comprehensive
modification is better than the SBS modifier.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, Buton rock asphalt (BRA) forms the "asphalt - mineral" system after
millions of years of deposition, absorption and integration. Compared with SBS and other
chemical modifiers, BRA has: 1) stable performance, including slow performance
deterioration rate, good anti-oxidation, and anti-aging abilities; 2) high asphaltene content,
and strong cross-linking, effectively improving the temperature sensitivity and material
performance at high temperature; and 3) plentiful micropores, and high alkali content,
resulting in good adhesion, strong water-resistance ability and many other characteristics.
Therefore, these properties make BRA an excellent natural asphalt modifier.

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 Geo-China 2016 GSP 262 162

REFERENCES

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[2] Liushu Tang, Yang Yongshun, Fang Jianguo, Guo Zhongyin. Budon Rock Asphalt
Modified Asphalt [J] Tongji University: Natural Science Edition, 2007, 35 (3):
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351-355.
[3] Wen Long, Wang Xiaojiang, Liu Hao, Kuo .BRA modified asphalt and modified
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[4] HU Weiqun, Wang Yong Budon natural rock asphalt road performance test [J]
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