Study on preparation and performance of advanced nano‐modified epoxy asphalt

The rapid growth in traffic volume and loads has increased the demand for high strength and durability paving materials. As the primary paving material of long‐life pavements and long‐span steel bridge decks, epoxy asphalt (EA) has the problems of poor tensile strength and low fracture toughness. In this study, graphene oxide nanosheets (GOs) and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were used to improve the mechanical properties of EA. Tensile tests, segregation experiments, Fourier transform infrared analysis, X‐ray diffraction, and fluorescence microscope (FM) were used to analyze the mechanical properties and micromorphology of nano‐modified EA, and to explore the optimal content of these two nano‐modifiers in EA. The results of tensile properties tests show the tensile properties of advanced nano‐modified EA are better when 0.01 wt% CNTs and 0.02 wt% GOs are added. Among them, EA modified by CNTs has the best toughening effect, and its fracture toughness is increased by 21%. Finally, combining macroscopic and microscopic experimental analysis, it is concluded that the mechanical homogeneity of the advanced nano‐modified EA is better, and the asphalt is uniformly dispersed in the continuous phase of epoxy resin. Furthermore, CNTs are chemically reacted with the amino group in oleylamine and modified EA through fiber network reinforcement, and GOs modified EA through the amidation reaction with oleylamine.