The Rheological Properties of Crumb Rubber with Different Recycled Waste Tires Modified Binders

Abstract

In this study, three typical tires from bicycles, passenger-cars and trucks were collected and ground into crumb rubber modifiers (CRM) with different particle sizes to modify the asphalt binder. The composition and surface morphology of the three CRMs were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TG-MS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The rheological properties of the binder were evaluated using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and a bending rheometer (BBR). The results show that the main rubber compositions in the bicycle tire (B), the passenger tire (P) and the truck tire (T) are butyl rubber (IIR), styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and natural rubber (NR), respectively. Adding CRMs improve rheological properties of base binder. Due to the differences between the composition and the structure, the rheological properties of the P CRM and T CRM containing more SBR and more NR are better at high temperatures and lower temperatures, respectively. And finally the CRM resources and particle size determine the rheological properties of modification effect of base binder. The results can be used to guide the classification and disposal of waste tires. According to the expected modification effect of the asphalt binder, the productions of asphalt pavement construction are enhanced by the high quality products of CRMs.