Guest Editor(s)
Dr. Lei Zhang
Email: lei.zhang@chd.edu.cn
Affiliation: Chang'an University, Xi'an, China
Homepage:
Research Interests: self-healing asphalt, modified bitumen, recycled asphalt
Dr. Tam M. Phan
Email: minhtam1894@kunsan.ac.kr
Affiliation: Kunsan National University, Republic of Korea
Homepage:
Research Interests: 3D printing in asphalt pavement, crack and pothole detection, CT scan analysis
Dr. Chao Yang
Email: yangc@hbut.edu.cn
Affiliation: Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Homepage:
Research Interests: recycled asphalt materials, self-healing pavement materials, high-value utilization of solid waste
Dr. Fusong Wang
Email: wangfs@whut.edu.cn
Affiliation: Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
Homepage:
Research Interests: low-carbon asphalt pavement, asphalt VOCs analysis, GHG emission, life cycle assessments
Summary
As an essential component of sustainable road infrastructure, eco-friendly polymer–asphalt composites have attracted increasing attention due to their potential to reduce environmental impact while maintaining or enhancing pavement performance. Conventional asphalt materials, though widely employed in road construction, are often associated with high energy consumption, significant carbon emissions, and reliance on non-renewable petroleum resources. Modified bitumen has been demonstrated as an effective approach to improve the rheological, mechanical, and durability properties of asphalt binders. However, traditional polymer modifiers may introduce additional environmental burdens. In response, the development of eco-friendly polymer–asphalt composites has emerged as a critical research frontier, aiming to balance engineering performance with ecological sustainability. These advanced composite systems encompass a range of strategies, including but not limited to: bio-derived polymer modification, recycled and waste-derived polymer additives, 3D printing asphalt technologies, aging resistance enhancement, self-healing asphalt mechanisms, recycled asphalt utilization, and life cycle assessment of modified binders. Furthermore, we place emphasis on low-carbon processing, material recyclability, and long-term service durability. The purpose of this Special Issue is to bring together researchers from diverse fields to share their latest advances in eco-friendly polymer–asphalt composites, including innovative modification methods, experimental design approaches, characterization techniques, and performance evaluation results. These contributions are expected to not only provide more sustainable and reliable solutions for pavement engineering but also promote the development of polymer-based road materials toward a greener and higher-performance direction.
The topics of interest for this Special Issue on "Eco-Friendly Polymer–Asphalt Composites for Pavements" include, but are not limited to:
1. Bio-derived polymers and recycled waste materials for modified bitumen
2. Self-healing asphalt: mechanisms, characterization, and performance evaluation
3. Recycled asphalt (RAP) incorporation with polymer modification
4. Warm-mix/cold-mix technologies and low-carbon processing of polymer–asphalt composites
5. Durability, aging mechanisms, and life cycle assessment of eco-friendly pavement materials
Considering your distinguished contribution to this substantial research field, we cordially invite you to submit an article to this Special Issue. Full research papers, communications, and review articles are welcome.
Keywords
polymer-modified bitumen; eco-friendly asphalt composites; self-healing asphalt; recycled asphalt pavement (RAP); bio-derived polymers; aging and durability; life cycle assessment (LCA);3D printing
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