Non-Isothermal Degradation Kinetics of Asphalt in Relation to its Chemical Composition

Abstract

Analysis of the complex and variable nature of the chemical composition of asphalt has been a challenge to engineers and scientists, especially as a means to understand its behavior and suggest ways to improve its properties. In this study, the thermal behavior and the non-isothermal degradation kinetics were analyzed using the isoconversional methods, through Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). TGA and DSC data show gradual change in the mass of the material at increasing temperature, suggesting behavior typical of a homogenous mixture. Kinetic analysis from the TGA data using the Starink modification of the Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose Isoconversional method show an apparent increase in the magnitude of the activation energies at different conversion degree, which suggests a gradual change in the composition of the material at each successive conversion due to a single heat-promoted transformation of each of the components.