The Physical and Mechanical Properties of Ethylene Vinyl Acetate Modified Binder

Abstract

During its service life, road pavement can easily crack, perforated or deformed. These damages happen as a result of low quality asphalt which indicated by its penetration index and stiffness value. 60/70 penetration asphalt modified by EVA polymer is expected to increase penetration index and stiffness value. Some experiments in the laboratory were carried out based on specified requirements and SNI-2011 asphalt testing procedures. The solid EVA was mixed with the liquid asphalt pen 60/70 at a medium to high temperature until it reaches 250 °C. During the mixing, this mixture was stirred for approximately ±15 minutes until homogeneous. These experiments consist of ductility test, penetration test, softening point test, flash point test, fire point test, specific gravity test, lose on heating test and asphalt stickiness to aggregate test. From the experiment, it can be concluded that the addition of 3.5% EVA in the asphalt pen 60/70 is generally acceptable based on the ductility value of SNI-2011 qualification. The addition of 3.5% give the ductility value of 130 cm, flash point of 300 °C, fire point of 310 °C, softening point of 54 °C, specific gravity of 1.020 gr/cc, asphalt stickiness to aggregate of 100% covered, and lose on heating of 0.037%. Nevertheless the experiment results in penetration value of 37.27 which doesn’t conform the qualification of asphalt pen 60/70. This penetration value resulting in penetration index value of -0.9. This shows that the asphalt resist to the temperature changing. Theoretical predictions of asphalt characteristics using BANDS 2.0 showed that the addition of EVA can increase the penetration index and the stiffness of the bitumen.