Recommendations of RILEM TC 252-CMB: relationship between laboratory short-term aging and performance of asphalt binder

Abstract

This recommendation reports on the effect of the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) aging temperature on chemo-mechanical properties of asphalt binders for Warm Mix Asphalts. The RTFOT testing temperature should ideally replicate physical and chemical short-term aging of asphalt mixtures. The relevance of this was investigated in light of the increased use of warm mix asphalt technologies. The recommendations are based on round robin experiments performed by nine participating laboratories and consisting of a series of tests including experimental results on penetration, softening point temperature, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and Dynamic Shear Rheology. The results indicate that the current RTFOT aging temperature does not replicate the aging in the mixture. For this reason, the TC recommends the selection of appropriate RTFOT aging temperatures in order to simulate binder aging as a result of various mixing technologies. The sulfoxide index is proposed as a measure of oxidative short term RTFOT aging.