Cover
Vol. 19 No. 2 (2025)

Published: December 31, 2025

Pages: 139-152

Research Article

Effect of Nano Zinc Oxide on the Performance Characteristics of Asphalt Binder

Meeran Abdulwahab Bakir* 1 Abdulhakim Othman Salih Kozapanky 2
1Salahaddin University - Erbil
2Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Erbil, Iraq
History
  • Received: November 18, 2025
  • Revised: December 14, 2025
  • Accepted: December 18, 2025
  • Available Online: December 31, 2025
DOI

https://doi.org/10.37650/ijce190210

Abstract

The use of nanomaterials in asphalt binders has become a very promising approach to improve the performance of pavements under growing traffic and environmental load. This research focuses on the influence of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles on physical and rheological properties of asphalt binder. ZnO was added in dosages of 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% by binder weight in a high shear mixing process. The modified and control binders were tested for their physical properties (penetration, softening point, ductility, flash point and viscosity), Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) tests for rutting and fatigue performance and Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) testing for low temperature behaviour. The results showed that the addition of ZnO nanoparticles reduced penetration and increased softening point, flash point and viscosity, which indicated the improvement of stiffness and thermal stability. Ductility was not affected, which confirmed that flexibility was maintained. Rheological analysis revealed that rutting resistance was significantly improved and a 76.7% reduction in the fatigue factor was observed in intermediate temperatures, whereas BBR results revealed acceptable low-temperature performance. The Performance Grade (PG) of the binder was improved up to two grades in higher contents of ZnO without exceeding limits for workability or thermal cracking. These results show that ZnO nanoparticle is an efficient asphalt modifier that enhances thermal, mechanical and rheological properties and thus can be used in high performance pavements applications with a wide range of temperature.

Keywords

References

  1. Ali, S. I. A., Ismail, A., Karim, M. R., Yusoff, N. I. M., Al-Mansob, R. A., & Aburkaba, E. (2016). Performance evaluation of Al2O3 nanoparticle-modified asphalt binder. Road Materials and Pavement Design, 18(6), 1251–1268. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2016.1208621
  2. Chen, X., Wen, P., Ji, Q., Jiang, S., Zhou, Z., Wang, A., Li, L., & Guan, B. (2023). Adhesion of Nano-ZnO Modified Asphalt and Its Influence on Moisture-Sensitive Properties of Mixtures. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8888248
  3. Ding, Y., Zhang, S., Luo, X., & Zhou, J. (2023). AFM characterization of morphological evolution and adhesion properties of ZnO/C nanosheet-modified asphalt under UV irradiation. Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties, 11(1), 015003. https://doi.org/10.1088/2051-672X/acaff6
  4. Fakhri, M., & Shahryari, E. (2021). The effects of nano zinc oxide (ZnO) and nano reduced graphene oxide (RGO) on moisture susceptibility property of stone mastic asphalt (SMA). Case Studies in Construction Materials, 15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2021.e00655
  5. Guo, G., & Zhang, H. (2022). The effect of morphology of ZnO particle on properties of asphalt binder and mixture. International Journal of Transportation Science and Technology, 11(3), 437–454.
  6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijtst.2021.05.005
  7. Hamedi, G. H., Nejad, F. M., & Oveisi, K. (2016). Estimating the moisture damage of asphalt mixture modified with nano zinc oxide. Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, 49(4), 1165–1174.
  8. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-015-0566-x
  9. Kulkarni, P. P., & Mandal, J. N. (2022). Evaluation of Strength Characteristics of Soil Stabilized with Nano Zinc Oxide—Cement Mixes for Low Volume Road Applications. International Journal of Geosynthetics and Ground Engineering, 8(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40891-021-00346-y
  10. Li, R., Xiao, F., Amirkhanian, S., You, Z., & Huang, J. (2017). Developments of nano materials and technologies on asphalt materials – A review. In Construction and Building Materials (Vol. 143, pp. 633–648). Elsevier Ltd. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.03.158
  11. Liu, Y., Jian-er, Z., Larbot, A., & Persin, M. (2007). Preparation and characterization of nano-zinc oxide. Journal of Materials Processing Technology, 189(1–3), 379–383.
  12. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JMATPROTEC.2007.02.007
  13. Moezzi, A., McDonagh, A. M., & Cortie, M. B. (2012). Zinc oxide particles: Synthesis, properties and applications. Chemical Engineering Journal, 185–186, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CEJ.2012.01.076
  14. Mueller, N. C., & Nowack, B. (2008). Exposure Modeling of Engineered Nanoparticles in the Environment. Environmental Science & Technology, 42(12), 4447–4453. https://doi.org/10.1021/es7029637
  15. Neto, V. F. de S., Lucena, L. C. de F. L., de Barros, A. G., Lucena, A. E. de F. L., & Filho, P. G. T. M. (2022). Rheological evaluation of asphalt binder modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles. Case Studies in Construction Materials, 17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscm.2022.e01224
  16. Patnaik, P. (2003). Handbook of inorganic chemicals (Vol. 529, pp. 769-771). New York: McGraw-Hill.
  17. Rondón-Quintana, H. A., Ruge-Cárdenas, J. C., & Zafra-Mejía, C. A. (2023). The Use of Zinc Oxide in Asphalts: Review. Sustainability, 15(14), 11070. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151411070
  18. Saltan, M., Terzi, S., & Karahancer, S. (2018). Mechanical Behavior of Bitumen and Hot-Mix Asphalt Modified with Zinc Oxide Nanoparticle. Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, 31. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)MT.1943-5533.0002621
  19. Staub de Melo, J. V., Manfro, A. L., Barra, B. S., Dell’Antonio Cadorin, N., & Borba Broering, W. (2023). Evaluation of the Rheological Behavior and the Development of Performance Equations of Asphalt Composites Produced with Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles. Nanomaterials, 13(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13020288
  20. Sukhija, M., Saboo, N., Yadav, A. K., & Rath, C. (2021). Laboratory study on the suitability of nano-silica as a modifier for asphalt binders. Construction and Building Materials, 302, 124406. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2021.124406
  21. Wang, W., Cheng, Y., Tan, G., Liu, Z., & Shi, C. (2018). Laboratory investigation on high- and low-temperature performances of asphalt mastics modified by waste oil shale ash. Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, 20(3), 1710–1723. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-018-0737-2
  22. Xu, X., Guo, H., Wang, X., Zhang, M., Wang, Z., & Yang, B. (2019). Physical properties and anti-aging characteristics of asphalt modified with nano-zinc oxide powder. Construction and Building Materials, 224, 732–742. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2019.07.097
  23. Yao, H., Dai, Q., You, Z., Ye, M., & Yap, Y. K. (2016). Rheological properties, low-temperature cracking resistance, and optical performance of exfoliated graphite nanoplatelets modified asphalt binder. Construction and Building Materials, 113, 988–996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2016.03.152
  24. Yarahmadi, A. M., Shafabakhsh, G., & Asakereh, A. (2023). Laboratory Evaluation of Fatigue and Rutting Performance of Nano CaCO3 Modified Asphalt Binders. Journal of Rehabilitation in Civil Engineering, 11(3), 144–157. https://doi.org/10.22075/JRCE.2022.27095.1651
  25. Yılmaz, B., & Ebru Gürbüz, H. (2021). Rheological and morphological evaluation of nanoclay modified asphalt binder. Construction and Building Materials, 313, 125479.
  26. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2021.125479
  27. Yunus, K. N. M., Zainorabidin, A., Kamaruddin, N. H. M., Ahmad, M. K., Anuar, N. F. N., & Yaakop, S. N. K. (2022). Physical and Chemical Properties of Nano Zinc Oxide Modified Asphalt Binder. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 14(9), 133–139. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2022.14.09.017
  28. Zhang, H., Gao, Y., Guo, G., Zhao, B., & Yu, J. (2018). Effects of ZnO particle size on properties of asphalt and asphalt mixture. Construction and Building Materials, 159, 578–586.
  29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.11.016
  30. Zhang, H., Zhu, C., Yu, J., Tan, B., & Shi, C. (2015). Effect of nano-zinc oxide on ultraviolet aging properties of bitumen with 60/80 penetration grade. Materials and Structures/Materiaux et Constructions, 48(10), 3249–3257. https://doi.org/10.1617/s11527-014-0395-3
  31. Zhu, C., Zhang, H., Xu, G., & Shi, C. (2017). Aging rheological characteristics of SBR modified asphalt with multi-dimensional nanomaterials. Construction and Building Materials, 151, 388–393.
  32. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CONBUILDMAT.2017.06.121