Abstract
Increasing traffic loading and volumes on roads have led to the use of polymer modified binders to improve the performance of bitumen in terms of strength, durability, and resistance to rutting. This research studies the effect of adding poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) with different molecular weights on asphalt properties. PMMA polymer was prepared via solution polymerization of MMA using dibenzoyl peroxide (DBPO) as initiator. By controlling the time of reaction, two different molecular weights were obtained: PMMA1 and PMMA2 with Mw 21.000 and 30.000, respectively. The morphological studies of polymer modified binder were discussed. Physical properties of PMMA modified asphalt including penetration value, softening point, and kinematic viscosity at 135°C and 150°C were examined. The aging properties of polymer modified asphalts were examined using thin film oven test (TFOT). A hot storage stability test was carried out for polymer modified binder. Indirect tensile strength (ITS) test and durability performance of modified asphalts were evaluated using Marshall Test. Resilient modulus (RM) test was evaluated using Universal Testing Machine. Results showed that the inclusion of PMMA polymer in asphalt binder has significantly improved its properties. The achieved improvement was found to be dependent on polymer molecular weight. Moreover, the results explained that the compatibility between PMMA and asphalt binder is improved upon further aging especially with low molecular weight polymer (PMMA).
Highlights
Conventional binders, such as binder with 100 penetration grade (100 pen.) and 60 penetration grades (60 pen.), were used in road pavement construction
Different molecular weights from poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) were added to asphalt for improving the performance of bitumen in terms of strength, durability, and resistance to rutting
Two different molecular weights of PMMA polymers were obtained by controlling the time of reaction since the termination reaction is time dependent [18]
Summary
Conventional binders, such as binder with 100 penetration grade (100 pen.) and 60 penetration grades (60 pen.), were used in road pavement construction. Increased axle loading, and braking power of vehicles in recent years required the durability and strength of the binder to resist rutting, fatigue, and cracking tendencies of road pavements. Polymers that are used for asphalt modification can be grouped into three main categories: thermoplastic elastomers, plastomers and reactive polymers. Reactive polymers have been introduced as asphalt modifiers Their “reactivity” is due to the presence of functional groups supposedly able to bond with asphalt molecules. Most frequently used acrylates as bitumen modifying agents in road applications are ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) glycidyl methacrylate (EA) terpolymer, ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymer, etc. Different molecular weights from PMMA were added to asphalt for improving the performance of bitumen in terms of strength, durability, and resistance to rutting
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