Preparation of artificial aggregate to be used in the asphalt mixture
Abstract
Phosphogypsum (PG) is a by-product of the fertilizer industry when producing phosphoric acid from phosphate rock. Massively consuming phosphogypsum (PG) has attracted worldwide attention. This study adopted PG to prepare the artificial aggregate by the disk granulation to be used in the asphalt mixture. Morphology, strength and internal structure of the aggregate were characterized. The result indicates artificial aggregate has higher sphericity but lower angularity and texture than natural aggregate. After the 7-day curing, the aggregate strength can reach 40.8 MPa. Later on, the strength grows slowly due to the formation of large number of pores. The water absorption ratio of the aggregate can be reduced less than 2% after treated by the silicone resin at a mass ratio of 2.68%. This study offers an economical alternative for massively consuming PG and saving natural resources.