{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,26]],"date-time":"2026-10-26T19:16:36Z","timestamp":1793042196048,"version":"4.5.0"},"reference-count":40,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1771200000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Polymers"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the synergistic and fineness-dependent modification of base asphalt using rice husk biochar (RHB) and styrene\u2013butadiene\u2013styrene (SBS), aiming to achieve the efficient utilization of agro-waste resources while markedly improving the high-temperature performance and durability of green pavement materials and sustainable transportation infrastructure. Through conventional performance tests, rheological measurements, and microstructural analyses, the performance behavior of RHB-SBS composite-modified asphalt and the interaction mechanisms between the modifiers were systematically examined. The results indicate that the fineness of RHB has a significant effect on the performance of the composite-modified asphalt, with 300 mesh identified as the optimal particle size that provides the best balance between high-temperature stiffness, low-temperature ductility, and storage stability. When the RHB fineness is fixed at 300 mesh, increasing the RHB content from 0 to 16 wt% markedly enhances the high-temperature performance of the composite asphalt, while its low-temperature performance slightly decreases. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis reveals that the porous structure and large specific surface area of RHB enable it to form a stable spatial network within the asphalt matrix, thereby improving high-temperature stability. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results show that the incorporation of RHB alters the chemical structure of the asphalt and increases the degree of crosslinking, while thermogravimetry\u2013differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) analysis further confirms that the thermal stability of the composite-modified asphalt is significantly enhanced.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/polym18040495","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]],"date-time":"2026-02-16T14:09:54Z","timestamp":1771250994000},"page":"495","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":4,"title":["Fineness-Dependent Rheology and Chemothermal Modification Mechanism of RHB-SBS Composite-Modified Asphalt"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Daming","family":"Wang","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xinwen","family":"Hong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3894-7702","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yuqi","family":"Song","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Monash Sustainable Development Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia"},{"name":"Deep Earth Energy Research Laboratory, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Zixin","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Zhonglu Jiaoke Technology Joint Stock Co., Ltd., Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chunjie","family":"Miao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yewei","family":"Zhu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Feng","family":"Yang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hefei Highway and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd., Hefei 230051, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Xianfeng","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hefei Highway and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd., Hefei 230051, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiubao","family":"Wu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaxing","family":"Ma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,16]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"304","DOI":"10.1016\/j.measurement.2018.03.001","article-title":"Applications of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy technologies on asphalt materials","volume":"121","author":"Hou","year":"2018","journal-title":"Measurement"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"138611","DOI":"10.1016\/j.colsurfa.2025.138611","article-title":"Multiscale insights into anti-aging performance and mechanisms of bitumen modified by waste-bischofite-derived layered double hydroxide","volume":"728","author":"Dong","year":"2026","journal-title":"Colloids Surf. 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