Evaluation of antioxidants to mitigate aging in wood-based bio-binders

Aging effects on asphalt binders lead to a reduction in the lifetime of pavement structures. Antioxidants have been used as a strategy to control or inhibit those effects. The use of biomass-based products in pavement structures raises concerns about the durability of this type of materials, as biomaterials are also affected by aging. This paper assesses the potential antiaging effect of two types of antioxidants, one synthetic and one bio-based, in wood-based bio-binders, produced for total substitution of asphalt binders in wearing course mixtures. Rheological and mechanical tests were conducted under unaged, short- and long-term aging conditions for different material combinations (bio-binders + additive). Results were compared to a neat asphalt binder. The findings suggest that the antioxidants chosen were not suitable for mitigating aging in the binders studied. It is important to document and share these findings to better inform the community of researchers in this topic area.