Effect of cross-linking agent on ethylene vinyl acetate/polyoctenamer modified bitumen

Abstract

The objective of the present work is to investigate the combined effect of polyoctenamer polymer and a cross-linking agent (i.e. sulphur) in order to overcome the traditional deficiencies such as low elastic recovery and high-temperature storage stability in ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) modified bitumen. Ten test samples were prepared through the modification of asphalt with EVA in the presence of trans-polyoctenamer (TPOR) polymer and sulphur at various percentages. The physical and rheological properties, including penetration, softening point, elastic recovery, viscosity, storage stability and superpave performance of the EVA-modified asphalt were then compared to that of conventional EVA-polyoctenamer modified asphalt. It was seen from results that the storage stability of the EVA-modified asphalt was significantly improved in the presence of polyoctenamer and sulphur. The elastic recovery, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests reported that such modification has a substantial effect in enhancing the elastic properties and the overall rheological properties of the modified asphalt.