Revolutionizing Road Pavements: Advancing Traffic Safety and Aesthetics Through Chrome Oxide and Iron Oxide Pigmented Coloured Asphalt Binders

• Published in: International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology
• Main Author: Khalifa N.A.; Bargi W.A.A.; Radwan A.A.M.; Younus B.; Ali S.I.A.; Suhandrig H.F.; Al-Mansob R.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer 2024
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85209070425&doi=10.1007%2fs42947-024-00485-1&partnerID=40&md5=80562c5a2396014b31bc1a8a611e7841

This paper investigates the pivotal role of asphalt binder in road pavement and its profound impact on overall road performance. Emphasizing the paramount importance of traffic safety, particularly in public spaces, the study explores the introduction of coloured asphalt as a means to enhance road safety. The coloured asphalt mixture comprises aggregates, bitumen binder, and two distinct colour pigments iron oxide for red and chrome oxide for green. These pigments are meticulously mixed in proportions of 15%, 25%, and 35%, with tests conducted to evaluate colour intensity. Assessment of strength and quality involves penetration and softening point tests for the binder, sieve analysis for aggregates, and dynamic creep and resilient modulus tests for coloured asphalt. The findings reveal that oxide pigments effectively produce coloured asphalt suitable for public spaces in Malaysia. The study successfully achieves its objectives, demonstrating that both red and green asphalt exhibit satisfactory results. Furthermore, the experiment underscores the crucial influence of iron oxide and chrome oxide in controlling and reducing pavement temperature. This research contributes valuable insights into the utilization of coloured asphalt for safety enhancements and aesthetic improvements in road pavements. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering 2024.