ABSTRACT
During each phase in the life of a bituminous mixture, from the mixing stage to the material specification checking stage, mineral aggregates undergo thermal variations of different degrees. In particular, mineral aggregates contained in bituminous mixtures have to withstand very high temperatures if the bitumen content of the mixtures is analyzed with the ignition method. In fact, the technological evolution of the ignition method in the analysis of bituminous mixtures with the introduction, as a consequence, of higher evaluation standards led many scientists to investigate the influence of thermal treatments on the integrity of the mineral aggregates, on their mass loss and on their capability to maintain their original mechanical features.
The purpose of this study, which is based on a wide experimental investigation, is to identify the physical conditions that cause such modifications and to indicate the precautions to be taken on the analysis of aggregates after a thermal shock.
