{"id":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","oai_identifier":"oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136245"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/stellenbosch/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/136245","repository":{"repo_id":"stellenbosch","name":"Stellenbosch University","base_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Lignosulfonate as an Alternative Filler in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs)","abstract":"Cement is one of the building construction materials that is commonly used in construction. Its binding and strength properties makes it suitable for use in various construction works such as building of houses, roads and bridges. It is actually impossible to imagine a world without cement. However, the cost of cement is increasing with time such that it is becoming difficult to afford a bag of cement and this has brought about high construction costs. In road construction, cement is used as a stabiliser to stabilise granular material to improve its properties especially in these recent times when there seem to be a scarcity of good gravel material for road construction. A lot of research has been done to find alternative materials to cement in road construction due to unsustainability issues involving the use and manufacturing of cement, were natural resources (limestone and clay) are heated at higher temperatures to produce cement, and this emits carbon in the atmosphere resulting in climate change. One such alternative material is the lignosulfonate, an extract from lignin -a by-product of the paper making industry-which has been seen to possess the same binding and strength properties like that of cement. As a renewable resource that is readily available and of low cost, the lignosulfonate is being used in various applications in road construction including as a partial replacement to bitumen in asphalt mix design due to its similar composition to that of bitumen. In a recent study, the lignosulfonate was seen to have improved the resistance to permanent deformation of an asphalt mix design and was proposed for use as a filler in cold mix designs such as bitumen stabilised materials. This research therefore investigated the use of lignosulfonate as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs. Tests were carried out on the BSMs which included preparatory tests on aggregate and bitumen as well as indirect Tensile Strength test and triaxial test. Specimens comprising of four different lignosulfonate percentages of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% at two different bitumen contents of 2.0% and 2.4% were produced and tested for Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS). The ITS values obtained from the lignosulfonate mix designs were compared to those obtained for the 1% cement active filler. From the ITS results, the specimens comprising of 0.25% lignosulfonate with 2.0% bitumen content gave the highest ITS dry value in comparison to other lignosulfonate percentages, including that for the 1% cement mix design. However, the ITS wet values for the lignosulfonate mix designs were relatively low compared to that of the cement due to the lignosulfonate being highly soluble in water. In addition, it was observed that a lower lignosulfonate percentage gave higher ITS values than a higher lignosulfonate percentage. It was further observed that increasing the lignosulfonate percentage from 0.25% resulted in a reduction in the ITS dry and ITS wet values of the specimen. Based on these results, it was concluded that the lignosulfonate could be used as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs but to a limit of 0.25% and should be used in dry climatic areas due to its hydrophilic nature. This will ensure better performance of the lignosulfonate as a filler in BSMs resulting in durability of the stabilised pavement layer.","abstract_html":"Cement is one of the building construction materials that is commonly used in construction. Its binding and strength properties makes it suitable for use in various construction works such as building of houses, roads and bridges. It is actually impossible to imagine a world without cement. However, the cost of cement is increasing with time such that it is becoming difficult to afford a bag of cement and this has brought about high construction costs. In road construction, cement is used as a stabiliser to stabilise granular material to improve its properties especially in these recent times when there seem to be a scarcity of good gravel material for road construction. A lot of research has been done to find alternative materials to cement in road construction due to unsustainability issues involving the use and manufacturing of cement, were natural resources (limestone and clay) are heated at higher temperatures to produce cement, and this emits carbon in the atmosphere resulting in climate change. One such alternative material is the lignosulfonate, an extract from lignin -a by-product of the paper making industry-which has been seen to possess the same binding and strength properties like that of cement. As a renewable resource that is readily available and of low cost, the lignosulfonate is being used in various applications in road construction including as a partial replacement to bitumen in asphalt mix design due to its similar composition to that of bitumen. In a recent study, the lignosulfonate was seen to have improved the resistance to permanent deformation of an asphalt mix design and was proposed for use as a filler in cold mix designs such as bitumen stabilised materials. This research therefore investigated the use of lignosulfonate as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs. Tests were carried out on the BSMs which included preparatory tests on aggregate and bitumen as well as indirect Tensile Strength test and triaxial test. Specimens comprising of four different lignosulfonate percentages of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% at two different bitumen contents of 2.0% and 2.4% were produced and tested for Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS). The ITS values obtained from the lignosulfonate mix designs were compared to those obtained for the 1% cement active filler. From the ITS results, the specimens comprising of 0.25% lignosulfonate with 2.0% bitumen content gave the highest ITS dry value in comparison to other lignosulfonate percentages, including that for the 1% cement mix design. However, the ITS wet values for the lignosulfonate mix designs were relatively low compared to that of the cement due to the lignosulfonate being highly soluble in water. In addition, it was observed that a lower lignosulfonate percentage gave higher ITS values than a higher lignosulfonate percentage. It was further observed that increasing the lignosulfonate percentage from 0.25% resulted in a reduction in the ITS dry and ITS wet values of the specimen. Based on these results, it was concluded that the lignosulfonate could be used as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs but to a limit of 0.25% and should be used in dry climatic areas due to its hydrophilic nature. This will ensure better performance of the lignosulfonate as a filler in BSMs resulting in durability of the stabilised pavement layer.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Mbisa, Innocencia Agness"],"institution":"Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Goosen, Elaine","Jenkins, Kim"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2026,"date_issued":"2026-03","date_published":"2026-03","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z","subjects":[],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136245","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Goosen, Elaine","Jenkins, Kim"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Stellenbosch University. 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Dept. of Civil Engineering."]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Mbisa, Innocencia Agness"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2026-04-29T10:15:23Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2026-04-29T10:15:23Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2026-03"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language.iso","label":"Language (ISO)","values":["en"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136245"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description","label":"Description","values":["Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Mbisa, I. A. 2026. Lignosulfonate as an Alternative Filler in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs). Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/a2d67599-4136-4efd-b8a8-7a31c6c6f8f4"]},{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["Cement is one of the building construction materials that is commonly used in construction. Its binding and strength properties makes it suitable for use in various construction works such as building of houses, roads and bridges. It is actually impossible to imagine a world without cement. However, the cost of cement is increasing with time such that it is becoming difficult to afford a bag of cement and this has brought about high construction costs. In road construction, cement is used as a stabiliser to stabilise granular material to improve its properties especially in these recent times when there seem to be a scarcity of good gravel material for road construction. A lot of research has been done to find alternative materials to cement in road construction due to unsustainability issues involving the use and manufacturing of cement, were natural resources (limestone and clay) are heated at higher temperatures to produce cement, and this emits carbon in the atmosphere resulting in climate change. One such alternative material is the lignosulfonate, an extract from lignin -a by-product of the paper making industry-which has been seen to possess the same binding and strength properties like that of cement. As a renewable resource that is readily available and of low cost, the lignosulfonate is being used in various applications in road construction including as a partial replacement to bitumen in asphalt mix design due to its similar composition to that of bitumen. In a recent study, the lignosulfonate was seen to have improved the resistance to permanent deformation of an asphalt mix design and was proposed for use as a filler in cold mix designs such as bitumen stabilised materials. This research therefore investigated the use of lignosulfonate as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs. Tests were carried out on the BSMs which included preparatory tests on aggregate and bitumen as well as indirect Tensile Strength test and triaxial test. Specimens comprising of four different lignosulfonate percentages of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% at two different bitumen contents of 2.0% and 2.4% were produced and tested for Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS). The ITS values obtained from the lignosulfonate mix designs were compared to those obtained for the 1% cement active filler. From the ITS results, the specimens comprising of 0.25% lignosulfonate with 2.0% bitumen content gave the highest ITS dry value in comparison to other lignosulfonate percentages, including that for the 1% cement mix design. However, the ITS wet values for the lignosulfonate mix designs were relatively low compared to that of the cement due to the lignosulfonate being highly soluble in water. In addition, it was observed that a lower lignosulfonate percentage gave higher ITS values than a higher lignosulfonate percentage. It was further observed that increasing the lignosulfonate percentage from 0.25% resulted in a reduction in the ITS dry and ITS wet values of the specimen. Based on these results, it was concluded that the lignosulfonate could be used as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs but to a limit of 0.25% and should be used in dry climatic areas due to its hydrophilic nature. This will ensure better performance of the lignosulfonate as a filler in BSMs resulting in durability of the stabilised pavement layer."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Lignosulfonate as an Alternative Filler in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs)"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Goosen, Elaine","Jenkins, Kim"],"dc:contributor.other":["Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Civil Engineering."],"dc:creator":["Mbisa, Innocencia Agness"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2026-04-29T10:15:23Z"],"dc:date.available":["2026-04-29T10:15:23Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2026-03"],"dc:description":["Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2026.","Mbisa, I. A. 2026. Lignosulfonate as an Alternative Filler in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs). Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/a2d67599-4136-4efd-b8a8-7a31c6c6f8f4"],"dc:description.abstract":["Cement is one of the building construction materials that is commonly used in construction. Its binding and strength properties makes it suitable for use in various construction works such as building of houses, roads and bridges. It is actually impossible to imagine a world without cement. However, the cost of cement is increasing with time such that it is becoming difficult to afford a bag of cement and this has brought about high construction costs. In road construction, cement is used as a stabiliser to stabilise granular material to improve its properties especially in these recent times when there seem to be a scarcity of good gravel material for road construction. A lot of research has been done to find alternative materials to cement in road construction due to unsustainability issues involving the use and manufacturing of cement, were natural resources (limestone and clay) are heated at higher temperatures to produce cement, and this emits carbon in the atmosphere resulting in climate change. One such alternative material is the lignosulfonate, an extract from lignin -a by-product of the paper making industry-which has been seen to possess the same binding and strength properties like that of cement. As a renewable resource that is readily available and of low cost, the lignosulfonate is being used in various applications in road construction including as a partial replacement to bitumen in asphalt mix design due to its similar composition to that of bitumen. In a recent study, the lignosulfonate was seen to have improved the resistance to permanent deformation of an asphalt mix design and was proposed for use as a filler in cold mix designs such as bitumen stabilised materials. This research therefore investigated the use of lignosulfonate as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs. Tests were carried out on the BSMs which included preparatory tests on aggregate and bitumen as well as indirect Tensile Strength test and triaxial test. Specimens comprising of four different lignosulfonate percentages of 0.25%, 0.5%, 0.75% and 1% at two different bitumen contents of 2.0% and 2.4% were produced and tested for Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS). The ITS values obtained from the lignosulfonate mix designs were compared to those obtained for the 1% cement active filler. From the ITS results, the specimens comprising of 0.25% lignosulfonate with 2.0% bitumen content gave the highest ITS dry value in comparison to other lignosulfonate percentages, including that for the 1% cement mix design. However, the ITS wet values for the lignosulfonate mix designs were relatively low compared to that of the cement due to the lignosulfonate being highly soluble in water. In addition, it was observed that a lower lignosulfonate percentage gave higher ITS values than a higher lignosulfonate percentage. It was further observed that increasing the lignosulfonate percentage from 0.25% resulted in a reduction in the ITS dry and ITS wet values of the specimen. Based on these results, it was concluded that the lignosulfonate could be used as an alternative filler to cement in BSMs but to a limit of 0.25% and should be used in dry climatic areas due to its hydrophilic nature. This will ensure better performance of the lignosulfonate as a filler in BSMs resulting in durability of the stabilised pavement layer."],"dc:identifier.uri":["https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/136245"],"dc:language.iso":["en"],"dc:publisher":["Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University"],"dc:title":["Lignosulfonate as an Alternative Filler in Bitumen Stabilised Materials (BSMs)"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:40:12Z"}