Rheological behavior analysis of emulsified cutback composite cold-mixed epoxy asphalt binder based on apparent viscosity

Abstract

In this paper, a composite cold-mixed epoxy asphalt binder (CCEAB) is made using diluted epoxy resin (DER) and cold-mixed solvent (CMS). The rheological behavior of CCEAB is analyzed by rotary viscosimeter at different temperatures, curing times, shear rates, DER and CMS contents. The fluid type of the CCEAB is identified, and its flow curve is modeled. The parallel phenomenon of apparent viscosity curves is revealed, and the shift factor is analyzed. The results showed that temperature, CMS content and shear rate are negatively correlated with viscosity, while time and DER content are positively correlated with it. CCEAB has typical shear thinning behavior and is a pseudoplastic fluid without yield stress. When the shear rate is greater than 18.6 s−1, the viscosity curves trend stable, and the final viscosity is about 60 % of the initial viscosity. The 5 variables have been added to the power law model to establish the flow curve of CCEAB, whose parameters are identified by the generalized inverse matrix. The parallel of viscosity curves follows the time-temperature superposition, and the shift factor function with 4 variables describes the conversion of viscosity curves. The flow curve of CCEAB has the same form and essence as the shift factor function, meaning the flow curve also describes the parallel. If the shift factor is regarded as a viscosity prediction method, it is not as accurate as the flow curve.