Effect of used motor oil as a rejuvenator on crumb rubber modifier’s released components to asphalt binder

Abstract

Asphalt binder modification by crumb rubber modifier (CRM) could enhance its rheological properties at high and intermediate temperatures by increasing its stiffness and elasticity. To obtain a modified binder blend with more enhanced intermediate- and low-temperature rheological properties, used motor oil (UMO) was introduced to the crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRMA) binder. The enhanced high- and intermediate-temperature rheological properties of the modified binders were investigated using a temperature sweep test. UMO, used as a rejuvenator, can regulate the CRM role in the modified binder blend by creating a balance between the binder’s enhanced stiffness and fluidity. This was achieved by increasing |G*|/sin δ at high temperatures and decreasing |G*|.sin δ at intermediate temperatures. The mutual components between the CRM and the asphalt binder were explored by thermogravimetric analysis and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. UMO was found to have similar FTIR bands of the asphalt binder that helped the CRM particles to absorb more low-molecular-weight fractions at the beginning of the interaction time, which caused them to swell more and then dissolve, releasing their polymeric components in the asphalt binder’s liquid phase. Adding UMO with two and half percentage by the weight of the neat asphalt binder to the CRMA binder, interacted at 190°C–50 Hz–60 min, could increase the CRM dissolution and cause a greater release of CRM polymeric components into the asphalt binder matrix. This was assured by the presence of FTIR peaks at 911 and 966 cm−1 that are related to the polybutadiene, synthetic rubber in CRM.