Effect of Lime on Sulfur-Asphalt

Sulfur-asphalt is a viable product in oil producing countries with a large quantity of sulfur as a by product, particularly in areas with a shortage of good quality aggregate. It is also a suitable option for replacing some of the bitumen content. It has been shown that sulfur improves the properties of asphalt mixtures compared to normal HMA, and at times may also be economically beneficial. In addition, manufacturing sulfur-asphalt produces sulfur acids, which can be dangerous for the environment around the plant and causes corrosion in the production equipment. During the 1970s, when the use of sulfur in asphalt was investigated, the production of corrosive and toxic acids was a prolific topic. However, the only solution available nowadays is to use expensive chemical compounds, which has been proposed by some European companies. In this study, the use of hydrated lime as an additive instead of beside sulfur has been investigated. Many researchers have suggested using lime for a delay in stripping; however, in this project the effect of reducing Sulfuric Acid is considered. Lime is a relatively cheap and abundant additive, with the added benefit that it can neutralize the acidic properties of sulfur asphalt.