Experimental evaluation of using stainless steel slag to produce mechanomutable asphalt mortars for their use in smart materials

Mechanomutable asphalt binders are a new generation of smart materials, which are able to change their mechanical response to the load conditions suffered during their service life. These binders are composed of a bituminous matrix and iron micro-particles that can be activated with an external magnetic field, which induces mechanical changes in the system. However, these particles are expensive and they considerably increase the cost of these materials, reducing their competiveness. Thus, the aim of this work is to study the viability to produce more sustainable and low-cost mechanomutable asphalt mortars using stainless steel slag (SSS). This by-product is obtained from the production of stainless steel and contains a significant quantity of iron that could be used to activate the response of these materials. Different sizes and concentrations of SSS were used to manufacture mechanomutable asphalt mortars, and their mechanical behavior was then examined using several rheological tests. The results show that it is possible to achieve changes in the rheological response of these smart asphalt materials, thereby obtaining mechanomutable mortars from the stainless steel by-products. The efficiency of the slag also appears to be more dependent on its iron content than on its concentration or particle size.