Abstract
The effect of modification of asphalt concrete mixtures of different grain sizes with “Ric-Polycell” (Ukraine) and “Duroflex®-SMA” thermoplastic polymers (Germany), which were added directly to the asphalt mixer during their preparation, on the properties of asphalt concrete was studied. It is confirmed that it is more expedient to use stone mastic asphalt concretes with a larger size of mineral crushed stone grains on high-traffic roads, as they are more rutting-resistant compared to asphalt concretes with smaller size and content of crushed stone grains. The effect of the temperature of preparation and thermostating of asphalt concrete mixtures modified with the investigated thermoplastics on the compressive strength of asphalt concrete at a temperature of 50 °С, which were made of the studied mixtures, was investigated. It was found that the maximum possible temperatures of preparation and thermostating of asphalt concrete mixes provide a more complete modification. The effect of the content of thermoplastic polymers in the composition of asphalt concrete mixtures on the properties and rutting resistance of fine-grained asphalt concrete, as well as stone mastic asphalt concrete, was studied. It was found that adding the “Ric-Polycell” polymer in the amount of 1.5 % and 3 % by weight of bitumen in the composition of the studied asphalt mixtures in the asphalt mixer during their preparation increases the rutting resistance of asphalt concrete under the studied conditions by 2.52–3.86 times. Modification of asphalt concrete mixtures with the “Duroflex®-SMA” additive in the amount of 0.3 % and 0.6 % by weight of the aggregate by a similar technology also allows increasing the rutting resistance of the obtained asphalt concrete by 1.86–3.16 times. Using these modifiers in the future will have a positive effect on the service life of the entire pavement structure
Highlights
The increase of the lifetime of pavement structures under the influence of heavy vehicles, the density of which has increased significantly in the last decade, can be achieved through the use of road construction materials of increased durability and innovative construction technologies
The efficiency of modification of asphalt concrete mixtures with thermoplastic polymers increases with increasing heating temperature of its components
The efficiency of the investigated polymer additives is quite noticeable when they are introduced into the asphalt mixer with mineral materials at a temperature of 180–185 °С
Summary
The increase of the lifetime of pavement structures under the influence of heavy vehicles, the density of which has increased significantly in the last decade, can be achieved through the use of road construction materials of increased durability and innovative construction technologies. As a material for flexible pavements, different types of asphalt concrete mixtures are used. One of the most common ways to improve asphalt concrete pavements is the preparation and application of asphalt concrete mixtures based on polymer-modified bitumens. For the modification of petroleum road bitumens, the following most common classes of polymers are used: elastomers (rubbers); various latexes (divinylstyrene, divinylnitrile); thermosetting polymers (epoxy and phenol-formaldehyde resins); thermoplastic (polyethylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate); thermoelastoplastic (styrene-butadiene-styrene). All of them are designed to improve the physical and mechanical properties of bitumen and asphalt concrete based on them. The most widespread in road construction are thermoplastic and thermoelastoplastic polymers
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