3D Reconstruction of Polymer Phase in Polymer-Modified Asphalt Using Confocal Fluorescence Microscopy
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33, Issue 1
Abstract
Associations between polymer morphology and the properties of polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) have been widely reported. Fluorescence microscopy (FM) plays a key role in analyzing the morphology of polymers in PMA. However, two-dimensional (2D) fluorescence images may not reveal the true nature of polymer phase in PMA, because the image is a projection of the three-dimensional (3D) space on a 2D plane. This study reconstructs the 3D polymer phase in PMA by using confocal fluorescence microscopy and image processing techniques. The method is successfully used in analyzing the morphology of polymers in styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) PMA. A quantitative comparison is made between the results of the 3D volume fraction and 2D area fraction of the polymer phase. The findings indicate that 3D reconstruction is necessary to understand the true state of the polymer phase in PMA. This research contributes to the body of knowledge in civil engineering materials by developing the method for 3D reconstruction of the polymer phase in PMA and discovering the more realistic state of the polymer phase.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request, including:
1.
The original images at different positions for all specimens mentioned in this paper;
2.
The processed images after background subtraction and deconvolution;
3.
2D images after maximum intensity projection and segmentation;
4.
3D polymer modeling for all specimens used in this paper;
5.
The particle analysis results of 2D images; and
6.
Statistical analysis results for 3D polymer particles in 3D modeling.
Acknowledgments
This paper is based on the research project (Project No. PolyU 152568/16E) funded by the Research Grant Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government and the research project (Project No. 51678510) funded by The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).
References
Adedeji, A., T. Grünfelder, F. S. Bates, C. Macosko, M. Stroup-Gardiner, and D. Newcomb. 1996. “Asphalt modified by SBS triblock copolymer: Structures and properties.” Polymer Eng. Sci. 36 (12): 1707–1723. https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.10567.
Airey, G. D. 2003. “Rheological properties of styrene butadiene styrene polymer modified road bitumens.” Fuel 82 (14): 1709–1719. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0016-2361(03)00146-7.
Bankhead, P. 2014. “Analyzing fluorescence microscopy images with ImageJ.” ImageJ 1 (195): 10–1109.
Blanco, R., R. Rodriguez, M. García-Garduño, and V. Castano. 1995. “Morphology and tensile properties of styrene–butadiene copolymer reinforced asphalt.” J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 56 (1): 57–64. https://doi.org/10.1002/app.1995.070560108.
Brûlé, B., Y. Brion, and A. Tanguy. 1988. “Paving asphalt polymer blends: Relationships between composition, structure and properties (with discussion).” In Proc., Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 41–64. St. Paul, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologist.
BSI (British Standards Institution). 2010. Bitumen and bituminous binders. Visualisation of polymer dispersion in polymer modified bitumen. BS EN 13632. London: BSI.
Champion-Lapalu, L., A. Wilson, G. Fuchs, D. Martin, and J.-P. Planche. 2002. “Cryo-scanning electron microscopy: A new tool for interpretation of fracture studies in bitumen/polymer blends.” Energy Fuels 16 (1): 143–147. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef010122s.
Chen, J.-S., M.-C. Liao, and M.-S. Shiah. 2002. “Asphalt modified by styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer: Morphology and model.” J. Mater. Civ. Eng. 14 (3): 224–229. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0899-1561(2002)14:3(224).
Dong, F., W. Zhao, Y. Zhang, J. Wei, W. Fan, Y. Yu, and Z. Wang. 2014. “Influence of SBS and asphalt on SBS dispersion and the performance of modified asphalt.” Constr. Build. Mater. 62 (Jul): 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.03.018.
Hao, G., W. Huang, J. Yuan, N. Tang, and F. Xiao. 2017. “Effect of aging on chemical and rheological properties of SBS modified asphalt with different compositions.” Constr. Build. Mater. 156 (Dec): 902–910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.06.146.
Hao, G., Y. Wang, K. Zhao, and W. Huang. 2020. “Property changes of SBS modified asphalt binders during short-term aging and implications on quality management.” Constr. Build. Mater. 244 (May): 118323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.118323.
Isacsson, U., and X. Lu. 1999. “Characterization of bitumens modified with SEBS, EVA and EBA polymers.” J. Mater. Sci. 34 (15): 3737–3745. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1004636329521.
Lesueur, D. 2009. “The colloidal structure of bitumen: Consequences on the rheology and on the mechanisms of bitumen modification.” Adv. Colloid Interface Sci. 145 (1–2): 42–82. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cis.2008.08.011.
Loeber, L., O. Sutton, J. Morel, J. M. Valleton, and G. Muller. 1996. “New direct observations of asphalts and asphalt binders by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy.” J. Microsc. 182 (1): 32–39. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2818.1996.134416.x.
Lu, X., and U. Isacsson. 2000. “Modification of road bitumens with thermoplastic polymers.” Polym. Test. 20 (1): 77–86. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-9418(00)00004-0.
Mewis, J., and N. J. Wagner. 2012. Colloidal suspension rheology. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
Polacco, G., J. Stastna, D. Biondi, and L. Zanzotto. 2006. “Relation between polymer architecture and nonlinear viscoelastic behavior of modified asphalts.” Curr. Opin. Colloid Interface Sci. 11 (4): 230–245. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cocis.2006.09.001.
Ploem, J., and H. Tanke. 1987. Introduction to fluorescence microscopy. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Robert Bagnell, C. 2012. “Fluorescence microscopy.” Accessed July 23, 2020. https://docplayer.net/23830484-Chapter-12-fluorescence-microscopy-c-robert-bagnell-jr-ph-d-2012.html.
Rozeveld, S. J., E. E. Shin, A. Bhurke, L. France, and L. T. Drzal. 1997. “Network morphology of straight and polymer modified asphalt cements.” Microsc. Res. Tech. 38 (5): 529–543. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0029(19970901)38:5%3C529::AID-JEMT11%3E3.0.CO;2-O.
Sengoz, B., and G. Isikyakar. 2008a. “Analysis of styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer modified bitumen using fluorescent microscopy and conventional test methods.” J. Hazard. Mater. 150 (2): 424–432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.04.122.
Sengoz, B., and G. Isikyakar. 2008b. “Evaluation of the properties and microstructure of SBS and EVA polymer modified bitumen.” Constr. Build. Mater. 22 (9): 1897–1905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2007.07.013.
Soenen, H., X. Lu, and P. Redelius. 2008. “The morphology of bitumen-SBS blends by UV microscopy: An evaluation of preparation methods.” Road Mater. Pavement Des. 9 (1): 97–110. https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2008.9690109.
Timm, D. H., M. M. Robbins, J. R. Willis, N. Tran, and A. J. Taylor. 2012. Field and laboratory study of high-polymer mixtures at the NCAT test track interim report. Auburn, AL: National Center for Asphalt Technology at Auburn Univ.
Wegan, V., and C. Bredahl Nielsen. 2000. “Microstructure of polymer modified binders in bituminous mixtures.” In Proc., Papers Submitted for Review at 2nd Eurasphalt and Eurobitume Congress. Roskilde, Denmark: Road Directorate, Danish Road Institute.
Wegan, V., and B. Brûlé. 1999. The structure of polymer modified binders and corresponding asphalt mixtures. St. Paul, MN: Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists.
Wilson, A., G. Fuchs, C. Scramoncin, D. Martin, and J. Planche. 2000. “Localization of the polymer phase in bitumen/polymer blends by field emission cryo-scanning electron microscopy.” Energy Fuels 14 (3): 575–584. https://doi.org/10.1021/ef9902303.
Ye, F., W. Yin, and H. Lu. 2015. “A model for the quantitative relationship between temperature and microstructure of Styrene–Butadiene–Styrene modified asphalt.” Constr. Build. Mater. 79 (Mar): 397–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.01.057.
Zhu, J., B. Birgisson, and N. Kringos. 2014. “Polymer modification of bitumen: Advances and challenges.” Eur. Polym. J. 54 (May): 18–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2014.02.005.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 33 • Issue 1 • January 2021
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 10, 2020
Accepted: Jun 11, 2020
Published online: Oct 19, 2020
Published in print: Jan 1, 2021
Discussion open until: Mar 19, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.