Optimization of Zycotherm Dosage and pH Effects on Stripping of Bituminous Pavement

In India, flexible pavement is widely used. It is frequently used in road construction due to economical rate, excellent riding quality, simple maintenance requirements and high skid resistance. However it is vulnerable to numerous distresses including cracks and permanent deformations, which can negatively impact both its performance as well as it’s service life. Stripping of bituminous pavements is a major pavement distress causing a decline in pavement durability which increases need for reconstruction and maintenance. It is vital to counter this phenomenon by incorporating innovative and advanced additives like antistripping agents into pavement mixture. This experiment investigates the effectiveness of Zycotherm, an antistripping agent (ASA) in bituminous pavements. The results show that Zycotherm significantly improves stripping resistance and durability. The optimum dosage of Zycotherm required for achieving maximum benefits is obtained by using improved boiling water test. While analysing influence of pH on the performance of bituminous pavements, it is observed that stripping significantly increase at a pH of 9, slightly increase at a pH of 4, and decrease at a pH of 7. By using ASA, it is found that stripping percentage could be reduced significantly in varying pH conditions. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the use of Zycotherm as an ASA and the importance of considering pH effects in bituminous pavement construction which helps in overall cost reduction and promotes sustainability by minimizing raw material usage.