Toward Fully Recycled Asphalt Mixtures: Conditioning 100% RAP with Waste-Engine-Oil-Modified Binders

Abstract

This study developed a conditioning framework for the sustainable use of waste-engine-oil-modified binders (WEOMBs) in 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) mixtures. Binder with a penetration grade of 60–70 was modified by 5%, 8%, and 10% waste engine oil (WEO) by binder weight. The WEOMBs were subjected to physical, chemical, and compositional analyses. For 10% WEOMB, the results showed a reduction of the binder softening point by 18% and an increase in binder penetration of almost 8%, enhancing softening and the workability of the binder. Binder chemical and compositional analyses verified that WEO altered the binder’s colloidal structure by augmenting aliphatic fractions and molecular mobility, while diminishing resin content and promoting saturates plus aromatics content. At 160 °C for 45 min, the RAPs were conditioned with 1% WEOMB (containing different WEO percentages) by the total weight of the RAP mixture. Among all the conditioned mixtures, the 100% RAP modified with 1% WEOMB, containing 8% WEO, showed the best performance. Dynamic modulus and phase angle analyses demonstrated that RAP conditioning reduced excessive stiffness and produced a balanced viscoelastic response, enhancing the rutting resistance. The proposed conditioning framework demonstrated the feasibility of producing fully recycled mixtures with balanced mechanical performance and adequate cracking resistance.