Phase　change　materials　(PCMs)　can　adjust　the　external　temperature　by　changing　their　phase　states.　In　order　to　understand　the　application　of　PCMs　in　asphalt　pavements,　this　paper　mainly　studied　the　classification,　mechanism,　thermoregulation　effects　of　PCMs　and　the　preparation　method　of　composite　phase　change　materials　(CPCMs).　In　addition,　the　effects　of　directly　incorporated　PCMs　and　composite　ones　on　the　properties　of　asphalt　binder　and　asphalt　mixture　were　described.　Results　show　that　directly　incorporated　PCMs　play　a　role　in　thermoregulation.　However,　there　is　high　temperature　leakage　phenomenon,　which　has　a　significant　adverse　effect　on　the　road　performance　of　asphalt　binder　and　asphalt　mixture.　CPCMs　effectively　prevented　leakage,　reduced　the　adverse　impact　on　the　physical　properties　of　asphalt　binder.　It　is　an　ideal　way　to　add　CPCMs　as　an　alternative　component　to　asphalt　mixture.　CPCMs　improved　the　heat　storage　and　release　capacity　of　asphalt　mixture　and　the　road　performance　of　asphalt　mixture,　such　as　high-temperature　stability,　low-temperature　anti-cracking　had　been　improved.　(C)　2020　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.