The usage of modified asphalt binder in road pavements has been increasing in the past few decades. Therefore, quality control and understanding of modified asphalt binders have become an important issue. This study was conducted as a part of a larger study on the efficient management of these modified asphalt binders by evaluating the characteristics of asphalt binders mixed with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), and wax-based warm-mix additives using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis. For original asphalt binders modified with SBS, response wavenumbers were 700 and 966 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1}$, which means a particular wavenumber of polybutadiene and polystyrene, while in the case of binders modified with EVA, peak response wavenumbers were at 1242 and 1739 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1},$ which represents a particular wavenumbers of a single stretching bond between carbon and hydrate and a double stretching bond between carbon and oxygen. Asphalt binders modified with wax-type additives showed peak response at 730 and 1540 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{-1},$ which represents a double stretching bond of carbon and a single stretching bond between nitrogen and oxygen. It was also found that peak values increased as addition rates also increased. The results showed that the additives used in this study have particular wavenumbers that show peak responses even when mixed into asphalt binders. Using these characteristics of the additives, FTIR analysis confirms that it is possible to determine whether or not a binder has been modified.

Recently, the handling of waste industrial resources has become an issue, and the importance of sustainable resources has increased. Among these waste industrial materials are glass wool and mineral wool, which are fibrous materials used as insulation materials with characteristics such as sound absorption, insulation, and non-flammability. However, after their service life, glass wool and mineral wool used for insulation are generally buried or incinerated, causing problems such as air and soil contamination. This research was conducted to examine the applicability of waste glass wool and mineral wool obtained from expired insulation as fiber reinforcement in cement concrete. The research aimed to evaluate the fresh concrete properties, strength properties, and durability properties by adding waste glass wool and waste mineral wool up to 0.5–2.0% of the cement weight. Regarding the slump and air content of fresh concrete, the results showed that the addition of waste fibers within this range did not significantly affect the air content. However, the slump decreased as the addition amount increased due to the high absorption, which is a characteristic of the fibers. In addition, the evaluation of strength revealed that the incorporation of fibers decreased the compressive strength compared to the reference concrete. However, the tensile strength increased due to the load-supporting function of the waste fibers. In the evaluation of freezing–thawing resistance and chloride ion penetration resistance, it was confirmed that the freezing–thawing resistance improved in all cases where waste glass wool was added. The chloride ion penetration resistance was found to be similar to that of the reference concrete. However, in the case of waste mineral wool, it was observed that an addition rate of more than 2.0% of fibers was required to ensure freezing–thawing resistance. As the addition rate increased, the total charge passed (permeability) increased significantly, leading to a decrease in chloride ion penetration resistance.

As the average temperature in summer rises and heat waves occur more frequently, the urban heat island (UHI) phenomenon is becoming a social problem. Asphalt road pavement stores heat during the day, raising the surface temperature, and releases the stored heat at night, thereby aggravating the UHI phenomenon. Government authorities often spray water to lower the temperature of road pavement for the safety and convenience of citizens. However, the effect is immediate and does not last long. Therefore, in order to reduce the urban heat island phenomenon by spraying water, the recovery time of the surface temperature must be delayed. In this study, Super Absorbent Polymer (SAP), a highly absorbent polymer that absorbs 100 to 500 times its weight in water, was applied to asphalt road pavement. SAP is commonly used in diapers, feminine hygiene products, soil moisturizers, and concrete, and its scope is gradually expanding. The purpose of this study is to reduce the urban heat island phenomenon by mixing the SAP into asphalt and to increase the latent heat flux by evaporating the water absorbed by the SAP, thereby delaying the recovery time of the surface temperature of the road pavement. In this study, the performance of asphalt mixtures mixed with the SAP and the thermal characteristics according to the mixing amount were analyzed. In this study, the physical properties and temperature reduction performance of the asphalt mixture according to the SAP type and content were studied. The results of indoor and outdoor experiments on asphalt mixtures using the SAP showed that they satisfied the mechanical performance criteria as asphalt pavement materials and that the temperature recovery delay effect was improved.