Abstract
It is well-accepted that the ionic copolymer poly (ethylene-co-methacrylic) acid (also named EMAA) is one type of self-healing material. This particular capability has great potential for extending the service life of infrastructures. In order to improve the rheological, mechanical, and self-healing properties of asphalt binder and asphalt mixtures, EMAA and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) were selected as the additives. In this study, the effects of EMAA and SBR on the performance of bitumen and asphalt mixtures were examined and characterized using various parameters including rheological indices, Glover–Rowe parameter, ductility self-healing rate, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscope (SEM) test on binders, and different testing methods such as complex modulus, thermal stress-restrained specimen test (TSRST), disk-shaped compact tension (DCT), and fatigue–healing–fatigue test on the mixtures. The results showed that EMAA can significantly improve the stiffness and self-healing capacity of virgin and SBR modified binders and mixtures. Moreover, the cracking resistance of EMAA/SBR compound modified binder and mixture showed a significant improvement. However, EMAA is not recommended to be added as a modifier to virgin binders and mixtures due to its poor cracking resistance. Some novel tests and parameters mentioned in this paper are recommended for characterizing binders and mixtures in the future.
Highlights
Asphalt binder has been used for many years in paving and roofing constructions because of its great viscoelastic properties [1]
This paper evaluated the effect of EMAA and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) modifiers on the rheological properties, cracking behavior, self-healing, compatibility, stability, and anti-fracture property of binders, and viscoelastic characteristics, low-temperature cracking, and self-healing properties of asphalt mixtures
The conventional tests, including softening point, equivalent softening point (T800), and kinematic viscosity (135 ◦ C) showed that the contents of 4% EMAA and 3% SBR can increase the physical properties and decrease the costs; 4%EMAA was effective in improving the complex shear modulus of binder. 3%SBR showed little effect on complex shear modulus of asphalt mixtures compared with virgin binder, it was more effective at high temperatures
Summary
Asphalt binder has been used for many years in paving and roofing constructions because of its great viscoelastic properties [1]. With the influence of traffic loading and environmental conditions, the relaxation capability and flexibility of asphalt mixtures gradually decline resulting in more ageing and lower cracking resistance, and this phenomenon is more obvious for virgin asphalt or reclaimed asphalt. To alleviate this problem, some additive agents were selected to be added. Becker et al found that SBR modified asphalt could significantly improve the viscosity and ductility of virgin asphalt, in addition to enhance the cracking resistance of asphalt mixture [3]. In order to obtain a comprehensive performance, as well as the high stability of asphalt binder, it is necessary to investigate more effective additives in combination with SBR
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