Rheological and physicochemical characteristics of asphalt mastics incorporating lime kiln dust and dolomite powder as sustainable fillers

The filler-bitumen interaction mechanism is one of the most essential phases for comprehending the asphalt mixture's performance.However,despite numerous studies,in-depth knowledge of filler-bitumen reciprocity at a microscale level is yet to be ascertained.The goal of this research is to gain a better understanding of the fillerbitumen microscale interaction in terms of the synergy and coaction between the physicochemical and rheological performance of mastics due to filler inclusions.The rheological properties of two sustainable mastics,dolomite powder(DP)and lime kiln dust(LKD),together with a neat PEN 60/70 binder,were analysed based on a temperature sweep at elevated temperature conditions.Meanwhile,frequency sweep and multiple stress creep recovery(MSCR)tests were also conducted at pavement serviceability temperature using the dynamic shear rheometer(DSR).Physicochemical tests using a scanning electron microscope(SEM)and energy dispersive X-rays(EDX)were conducted to analyse the impact of parameters such as particle shape,grain size,texture,and chemical compositions.The DSR test results showcased how the incorporation of fillers in asphalt binder considerably improved the performance of the binder in terms of rutting and fatigue.Likewise,its strain and nonrecoverable compliance parameters were substantially reduced at higher filler and binder concentrations.Physical filler attributes of low rigden voids(R.V),high fineness modulus(FM),and high specific surface area(SSA)led to greater interfacial stiffness and elasticity in LKD mastics compared to DP mastics at different loading frequencies and temperature levels.The SEM/EDX results also indicated that the elemental calcium and carbon composition of each filler component,together with its grain morphology,strongly influenced its rheological performance.

Impact of Business Practices on Individual Energy Consumption

Changing behaviours and attitudes towards more sustainable individual energy consum- ption is a difficult topic to address. After identifying the most recurrent factors influencing bad energy consum- ption-society＇s environmental short- sightedness, a lack of individual responsibility and a tendency to put responsibility upon firms, institutions, and governments, the authors evaluated the effect business practices can have on individual behaviour. By qualifying as highly credible sources of information, positioning themselves as examples to follow and providing its employees with the necessary smart, innovative technology, business communities can have a major impact on changing individual behaviours towards more sustainable energy consumption.