Laboratory assessment of mechanical performance and fume emissions of LEA® HWMA (90°C) vs. traditional HMA (160°C)
With the current trend in favour of reducing pollutant emissions and energy consumption, the road industry and bitumen manufacturers have also been pursuing a path of sustainable development. A series of new medium temperature coating and mixing technologies, under the label warm and half-warm asphalt mixes have come to the fore. A study, carried out in the laboratory within the framework of a partnership established between EIFFAGE Travaux Publics and IFSTTAR, aimed at correlating potential fume emissions with mixing parameters for asphalt mixes, in relation to the mix mechanical properties and to bitumen ageing. This study demonstrates that a decrease in manufacturing temperature leads to a global emissions reduction as well as slower bitumen ageing. Results obtained highlight the influence of mix parameters and processes, especially regarding fume emissions for both half-warm and hot mix asphalts (hma). As for the mechanical performance and durability of LEA® mixes, their complex modulus and fatigue resistance characteristics are similar to those of traditional hma.