Enhancing Asphalt Performance with Plant Fibers: A Comprehensive Review
Yang Song *
School of Civil Engineering and Transportation, North China University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Zhengzhou 450045, Henan, China.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Conventional asphalt pavements face persistent distresses (rutting, cracking, moisture damage) under extreme environments and heavy traffic. Plant fibers (bamboo, coconut, sisal) emerge as sustainable modifiers, reducing life cycle carbon emissions by 30%-45% versus synthetic fibers while valorizing agricultural waste. Pretreatments (alkali, silane, acetylation) mitigate hydrophilicity, achieving up to 71.3% hemicellulose removal and enhancing fiber-asphalt interfaces. Performance evaluations demonstrate significant improvements: bamboo fiber enhances moisture stability by 20% and substitutes lignin in Stone Mastic Asphalt; coconut fiber (6% dosage) boosts complex modulus by 7.3 times in Trinidad Lake Asphalt and improves low-temperature cracking resistance; sisal fiber (0.3% dosage) enhances tensile strength by 15%-25% and fatigue life via ultra-high tensile strength (363 MPa-700 MPa). Future research should optimize fiber selection, develop eco-friendly treatments, and establish standardized durability guidelines for industrial adoption.
Keywords: Plant fiber, asphalt modification, pretreatment methods, rheological properties, LCA, sustainable pavement