Exploiting the synergetic effects of graphene and carbon nanotubes on the mechanical properties of bitumen composites. (February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Qilin; Qian, Yue; Fan, Zepeng; Lin, Jiao; Wang, Dawei; Zhong, Jing; Oeser, Markus
• Is Part Of: Carbon. Volume 172(2021)
• Page Start: 402
• Page End: 413
• Publication Date: 2021-02
• Subjects: Carbon nanotubes -- Graphene -- Synergetic effects -- Rheological property -- Low-temperature performance; Carbon -- Periodicals; Carbone -- Périodiques; Koolstof; Toepassingen; Electronic journals; 546.681
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2020.10.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0008-6223

Abstract

Abstract: Functional carbon nanomaterials are incorporated in bitumen composites to enhance their mechanical performance; however, this process is significantly hindered by the poor dispersion of the nanomaterials in the bitumen composite bulk, and their sluggish interfacial interaction with the bitumen matrix. In this study, graphene/carbon nanotube (CNT) hybrid materials were used to reinforce a bitumen composite, exhibiting improved dispersion, while advancing the interfacial interactions between the carbon nanomaterials and the bitumen matrix. Comparing with the control bitumen sample, a Bitumen/Graphene composite and a Bitumen/CNT composite, the graphene/CNT hybrid notably improved several properties of the bitumen structure, such as rutting resistance, creep and recovery behavior, permanent deformation resistance, low-temperature cracking resistance and the degree of crosslinking in the bitumen. In particular, bitumen binders with 0.2 wt% graphene and 0.8 wt% CNT composite presented the optimal mechanical performance. These improvements can be attributed to the synergetic effects of the material and the formation of 1D-2D hybrid structures, which apart from increasing the contact area, effectively enhanced stress transfer at graphene/CNT and bitumen interface. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A hybrid graphene/CNT nanostructure was designed and homogeneously dispersed and embedded in a bitumen composite. Hybrid graphene/CNT significantly enhanced the high-temperature performance of bitumen. Hybrid graphene/CNT remarkably improved the low-temperature cracking resistance and crosslinking degree of bitumen. Bitumen with 0.2 wt% graphene and 0.8 wt% CNT exhibited the optimal mechanical properties.