Investigation on the Effect of Titanium Oxy di-fluoride (TiOF2) Nanoparticles on the Rutting Behavior of Asphalt Mixtures

Rutting is one of the main reasons for reducing the life of the asphalt pavements. Asphalt binder modification using various additives is one of the most common methods for rutting reduction and asphalt modification. Many materials such as oils, ashes, polymers, and nanomaterials are used in asphalt binder to improve asphalt mixtures. In this paper, physical and rheological properties of asphalt mixture modified by titanium oxy di-fluoride (TiOF2) nanoparticles as an additive were investigated. The degree of penetration and the softening point tests on the control and modified asphalt binder showed increasing nanoparticles amount caused an increment in the softening point and decrement the degree of penetration due to friction increasing between needles and bitumen. Rheological properties were investigated by Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) test on the control, modified asphalt binders and the asphalt binders obtained from the rolling thin film oven test. Repeated Load Axial (RLA) Test were performed to study the rutting properties of asphalt mixtures. The results showed that the addition of titanium oxy di-fluoride nanoparticles (gray titanium nanoparticles) to the asphalt binder increased the resistance of shear deformation and improved the elastic behavior.