# Research Progress on Asphalt–Aggregate Adhesion Suffered from a Salt-Enriched Environment

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how salt and water damage asphalt pavement in salty environments and explores ways to improve durability.

## Contribution

The study systematically reviews adhesion degradation mechanisms and evaluation methods in salt-rich environments.

## Key findings

- Salt and water combined accelerate asphalt-aggregate interface deterioration.
- Multi-scale methods reveal damage patterns from environmental and mechanical factors.
- Asphalt and aggregate modifications are potential solutions to improve adhesion.

## Abstract

Salt permeation erosion is a key factor leading to the deterioration of service performance and shortening the lifespan of asphalt pavement in salt-rich areas. In this environment, the combined action of water and salt accelerates the decline in the asphalt–aggregate interface, leading to distress, such as raveling and loosening, which severely limit pavement durability. The authors systematically reviewed the research progress on asphalt–aggregate adhesion in a saline corrosion environment and discussed the complex mechanisms of adhesion degradation driven by intrinsic factors, including aggregate chemical properties, surface morphology, asphalt components, and polarity, as well as environmental factors, such as moisture, salt, and temperature. We also summarized multi-scale evaluation methods, including conventional macroscopic tests and molecular dynamics simulations, and revealed the damage evolution patterns caused by the coupled effects of water, salt, heat, and mechanical forces. Based on this, the effectiveness of technical approaches, such as asphalt modification and aggregate modification, is explored. Addressing the current insufficiency in research on asphalt adhesion under complex conditions in salt-rich areas, this study highlights the necessity for further research on mechanisms of multi-environment interactions, composite salt erosion simulation, development of novel anti-salt erosion materials, and intelligent monitoring and early warning, aiming to provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the weather-resistant design and long-term service of asphalt pavement in salt-rich regions.