Integration of Coke and CNMs with Bitumen: Synthesis, Methods, and Characterization

Carbon-based nanomaterials have emerged as a promising strategy for bitumen modification to enhance the mechanical and thermal performance of pavements. This review evaluates the present advancements in the inclusion of coke and carbon nanomaterials (CNMs) such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene into bituminous systems. The findings and limitations of recent experiments in synthesis procedures along with dispersion methods are deeply explored to determine their impact on the rheological properties of bitumen as well as aging resistance and durability characteristics. Petroleum coke enhances bitumen softening points by 10-15 °C and causes up to 30% improvement in rutting resistance while simultaneously prolonging material fatigue life and aging resistance. Bitumen modification through petroleum coke faces challenges in addition to mixing difficulties due to its high viscosity. Moreover, the incorporation of CNTs and graphene as CNMs shows significant enhancements in rutting resistance with improved tensile strength, lower additive requirements, and enhanced dispersion. Both the superior mechanical properties of carbon nanomaterials and processing advancements in nano-enhanced bitumen have the capability to solve technical issues including material costs and specialized mixing processes. Combining coke with CNMs to enhance performance is a future research direction, which could result in economic and scalability considerations. This review comprehensively explores insights into physicochemical interactions, performance outcomes, and processing techniques, crucial for the development of sustainable, high-performance bitumen composites tailored for next-generation infrastructure applications.