Abstract
In this study, the change in the physical, chemical, microstructural, and rheological properties of a road bitumen modified with reactive terpolymer (Elvaloy®RET) was investigated. For this purpose, four different Elvaloy®RET percentages (0%, 0.4%, 0.8%, and 1.2% by wt.) were mixed with B 160/220 bitumen. Firstly, the obtained samples were subjected to a short and long-term aging process using a rotating thin-film oven test and pressurized aging vessel, respectively. Then, the engineering characteristics of the samples were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and conventional and Superpave bitumen tests. The results showed that Elvaloy®RET reacted with the main macromolecular groups in the bitumen, and that the modified bitumens behaved as a homogenous single phase structure as a result of this reaction. Conventional tests showed that Elvaloy®RET-modified bitumens were much harder than pure bitumen and had better aging resistance. Furthermore, the penetration classes of these bitumens changed and their temperature sensitivities decreased significantly. Rheological tests showed that the Elvaloy®RET additive increased the resistance of the bitumen against fatigue cracking and particularly permanent deformation. Moreover, the high temperature performance class of the bitumen also increased. However, parallel to the hardening of the bitumen, a reduction in its resistance to cracking at low temperature was observed.
Highlights
Some conditions such as different environment, climate, heavy traffic, and tire pressure lead to various deteriorations in asphalt pavements
The most common deteriorations in pavements are the permanent deformations at high temperatures, fatigue cracks at intermediate temperatures, and thermal cracks at low temperatures [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
In the modified bitumen preparation process, when 1.4% or more of Elvaloy® RET was added to the bitumen, a gelling occurred in the blend due to the chemical reaction
Summary
Some conditions such as different environment, climate, heavy traffic, and tire pressure lead to various deteriorations in asphalt pavements. Asphalt binders are modified with various additives in order to prevent or reduce these deteriorations. Because the performance of an asphalt pavement is significantly affected by the low and high temperature performance of binders. For this reason, many natural and chemical additives have been used in recent years in order to improve some properties of conventional bitumens such as aging stability, thermal sensitivity, elastic behavior, and cracking resistance [5,9,10,11,12].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call