Evaluación de las características físicas del asfalto AC-20 producido en el austro del Ecuador con aditivos y sin ellos

Abstract

Analyzing the physical properties of asphalt is a fundamental part of everyday work in road engineering, since these properties largely determine how well a pavement performs and how long it will last. In this study, AC-20 asphalt produced at the Esmeraldas State Refinery was examined, first in its original condition and then after adding different amounts of additive. To observe how the material responds to these changes, softening point, penetration, and flash and fire point tests were carried out, all of which are commonly used in binder quality control. In addition, technical documents and previous studies were reviewed to consider other relevant asphalt properties, such as viscosity, ductility, solubility, density, and API gravity. The results show that when the additive content is close to 0.2% - 0.8%, the asphalt exhibits a more stable and favorable behavior, which agrees with findings reported in the literature and suggests that this dosage may be more suitable than the 0.05% commonly used in many public infrastructure projects.