Observation and evaluation of the degree of blending of reclaimed asphalt concretes using microscopy image analysis

In order to contribute to the protection of the environment, asphalt concrete is produced incorporating a high percentage (70%) of reclaimed materials from the deconstruction of road surfaces under renovation. In this paper we propose a microscopic observation technique to appreciate the way the virgin binder and the reclaimed asphalt pavement binder blend together. This technique is applied to compacted samples. Quantitative indicators are proposed to characterise the properties of the blend of binders and quantify the influence that production parameters, materials temperature and mixing time, have on the disappearance kinetics of the reclaimed asphalt pavement binder clusters initially present.