An Evaluation of Use of Synthetic Waxes in Warm Mix Asphalt

The preservation and protection of both natural and workspace environment are two of the main objectives that also concern the field of road engineering. As such, there is an ever increasing use of new pro-environmental techniques and materials. One of these innovative processes includes warm mix asphalt (WMA). Such asphalt mixtures, compared with traditional hot mix asphalt (HMA), need lower mixing and compaction temperatures, allowing lower CO2 and fume emission, reducing energy consumption and operative benefits. In this context the present experimental study was conducted to evaluate the workability and mechanical performance of WMA by adding synthetic waxes. Three different asphalt mixtures were selected, the first was a traditional mix, as reference material, while the other were two mixes modified with synthetic long carbon chain wax. The experimental investigation consisted of a compaction grade study by different laboratory compaction techniques and of dynamic tests to evaluate the mechanical response of WMA compared to HMA.