Aging Characterization of Bio-Replacement and Bio-Extended Clear Binders
摘要
In the pursuit of reducing the environmental impact of road infrastructure, alternative binders are being explored. These include bio-replacement binders, with a renewable content above 75 wt%, and bio-extended binders, with a bio-fraction between 10 wt% and 75 wt%. Due to their chemical compositions distinct from fossil bitumen, it is essential to investigate their aging and degradation mechanisms. This study examines the behavior of two such materials: a wood-based bio-replacement clear binder and a bio-extended one. They were subjected to different aging protocols: natural outdoor exposure, aging within a UV-Vis-NIR climatic chamber and within a Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV). Both chemical degradation and mechanical properties were investigated to uncover the structure–property relationships of these materials. A statistical analysis also assessed the accuracy of the accelerated aging protocols in replicating field conditions.