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Mineral filler characteristics and non-Newtonian viscosity of asphalt mastic at high temperature: A response surface methodology approach
Author(s)
Date Issued
December 1, 2026
Type
Article
Abstract
Asphalt mastic—composed of asphalt binder and mineral filler—strongly governs the high-temperature viscosity of asphalt concrete during mixing and compaction. This study investigates the effects of four mineral fillers (granite, limestone, shale, and pumice) on the viscosity and flow behavior of asphalt mastics at elevated temperatures (130–170 °C). Comprehensive filler characterization was performed, encompassing morphological analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), physical property evaluation (particle density, specific surface area, and Rigden voids), hydrophilic coefficient determination, particle size distribution by laser diffraction, and mineralogical identification by X-ray diffraction (XRD). Response surface methodology (RSM) with a central composite design (CCD) was employed to model the combined effects of temperature (130–170 °C), filler content (5–30% by volume), and rotational speed (10–30 RPM) on apparent viscosity measured by a Brookfield rotational viscometer. The non-Newtonian index, derived from the power-law (Ostwald–de Waele) model, was used to classify flow behavior. Results demonstrate that temperature and filler content are the dominant parameters governing viscosity, while rotational speed controls the degree of non-Newtonian behavior in a filler-dependent manner. A critical transition from quasi-Newtonian to pronounced non-Newtonian flow was identified at 15–20% filler content by volume, coinciding with a sharp increase in the effective solid volume fraction that approaches the colloidal packing threshold (φ* ≈ 32–34%). Pumice exhibited the strongest shear-thickening (n up to 1.22) while granite showed consistent shear-thinning (n ≈ 0.88–0.94), with limestone and shale showing mixed behavior. Pumice and shale produced the strongest viscosity stiffening, consistent with greater binder immobilization due to their higher Rigden voids. AASHTO T316 workability analysis indicates that under base-binder conditions, the maximum filler content within practical mixing limits at 160 °C is approximately 30% for granite and limestone but only ∼22% for pumice. The validated quadratic RSM models (R² = 0.84–0.96) provide a practical framework for optimizing filler selection and processing temperatures in asphalt mixture design.
Citation
Results in Engineering, 32, 2026