Investigation of the conductivity of asphalt concrete containing conductive fillers

Carbon black, graphite and carbon fibre were employed to design and prepare electrically conductive asphalt mixtures containing single filler or mixed fillers of conductive powder plus carbon fibre. The effects of filler type, filler content and mixed fillers on the resistivity of asphalt concrete were investigated. Experimental results showed that the insulating-conductive percolation transition of the resistivity under the function of filler content appears in the single-filler composites and the percolation threshold is approximately 12%, 10%, and 5% by volume percentage of the binder phase for carbon black, graphite and carbon fibre respectively. The combination function of mixed fillers has appreciable advantages over single powder filler, but no obvious advantages over simple fiber in the conductivity improvement at the same total filler content. But the addition of small amounts of expensive fibers to larger amounts of cheaper CB or graphite can be a cost effective system. Scanning electron microscope images provide insight into the mechanisms of conductivity enhancement for mixed fillers. Conductive filler particles exhibit the short-range contacts or connections in asphalt concrete, whereas carbon fibres exhibit a long-range conductive bridging effect and short-circuit effect because of the high aspect ratio.