Abstract
The aim of this research was to define the effect of oxidative aging on the chemical and rheological properties of neat and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer-modified bitumen. The experimental research had two objectives: firstly, the short and long-term effects of aging on the properties of neat and polymer-modified bitumen were investigated. Then, the aging indexes based on chemical and rheological properties to describe the age of unknown bitumen were established. Aging characteristics such as the Gaestel index, sulfoxide and carbonyl indexes, linear viscoelastic strain range, crossover temperature, and Glover–Rowe parameter were analysed for laboratory aged and naturally aged neat and polymer-modified bitumen. The functional composition of aged bitumen was evaluated by measuring absorption with Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) attenuated total reflection (ATR) spectrometer. The saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes (SARA) fractions were determined with thin layer chromatography with flame-ionization detection (TLC-FID) to determine the colloidal instability index (Gaestel index). Finally, the complex shear modulus was determined with dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) to evaluate the influence of aging on the bitumen mechanical performance.
Highlights
Almost 95% of the bitumen produced worldwide is used to construct roads with asphalt pavement [1]
The results showed that the investigated different age bitumen binders are colloidally stable; to be specific, Ic < 0.22–0.5 < Ic
Polymer-modified (PMB 45/80-55) bitumen, and unknown bitumen recovered from 12–19 years’
Summary
Almost 95% of the bitumen produced worldwide is used to construct roads with asphalt pavement [1]. The asphalt pavement industry leads the vehicles transportation sector because of comfortable driving, as well as easy and fast construction, maintenance, and repair activities. Bitumen aging and rejuvenation phenomena are still under research focus, due to the increasing usage of reclaimed asphalt and asphalt pavement recycling [3,4,5]. With increasing concerns about environmental preservation, the usage of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for road construction and maintenance activities will increase from 20–30% to 80–100% [5,6,7]. To select the effective type of rejuvenator and quantity, the bitumen aging phenomena have to be understood to assure the long-term performance of asphalt pavement
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