Decision support for solution of straw waste into asphalt material based on TG–FTIR

To clarify the effect and mechanism of straw waste on the properties of asphalt materials, two types of modified asphalt were prepared by using straw powder (SP) and incineration ash (IA). The impact of SP and IA on the physical properties of asphalt was studied. The microscopic morphology characteristics and chemical composition of modified asphalt were analysed and investigated using a focused ion beam scanning electron microscope and an energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer. Finally, the thermal properties and molecular structure variation of modified asphalt were characterised by a thermogravimetric analyser coupled with a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer. The results indicate that IA has a greater potential in enhancing and improving the physical and thermal properties of asphalt than SP. The incinerating process could promote the fusion between SP and asphalt, which mitigates the negative effect on low-temperature deformation of asphalt. IA could reduce the weight loss of asphalt, obviously preventing its combustion process. The addition of IA leads to the variation of absorbance intensity of asphalt, which suggests the potential of IA on improving the thermal stability of asphalt materials.