Properties of Polymer Modified Bitumen after Rubber-Bitumen Interaction
Publication: Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering
Volume 14, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper describes results from a laboratory investigation into the effects of the interaction between a styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified bitumen and recycled crumb rubber on the mechanical performance of impact absorbing asphalt (IAA), an asphaltic material that has applications as a sports and safety surface. Curing tests at high temperatures have been undertaken using different rubber-bitumen ratios to assess the amount of bitumen absorbed by the rubber. The changes in bitumen constitution through this interaction have been monitored and related to changes in the rheological characteristics of the residual bitumen. The results show that significant absorption takes place and that the residual bitumen undergoes alterations in terms of its stiffness and viscoelastic balance, together with a reduction in cohesion. A significant finding has been the loss of the polymeric nature of the residual SBS polymer modified bitumen. This has been due to the precipitation of the SBS polymer as the compatibility between the base bitumen and polymer has decreased following the absorption of the lighter, solvating fractions of the binder. To assess the effect of the rubber-bitumen interaction on the mechanical durability of IAA, an abrasive wear test has been developed to simulate the contact between a twisting foot and the surface. This test has been used to compare the mechanical durability of laboratory prepared specimens that have been artificially aged at high temperatures (to simulate the mixing and transportation period before the material is laid and compacted). Results show that there is a detrimental effect on the mechanical durability of the aged material due to the interaction between the rubber and the bitumen.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Airey, G. D. (1997). “Rheological characteristics of polymer modified and aged bitumens.” PhD thesis, Univ. of Nottingham, Nottingham, U.K.
Airey, G. D., and Brown, S. F.(1998). “ Rheological performance of aged polymer modified bitumens.” J. Assoc. Asphalt Paving Technol., 67, 66–100.
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO). (1994). “Standard method of test for determining the rheological properties of asphalt binders—Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR).” AASHTO TP5, Washington, D.C.
Blow, C. M. (1971). Rubber technology and manufacture, Institution of the Rubber Industry, London.
Brule, B., Brion, Y., and Tanguy, A. (1988). “Paving asphalt polymer blends: Relationship between composition, structure and properties.” Proc., Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 57, 41–64.
Cotte, C., and Such, C. (1996). “Influence of RTFOT ageing on the rheological behaviour of polymer modified bitumen and their associated phases.” Proc., Eurasphalt & Eurobitume Congress, Strasbourg, Belgium.
Ferry, J. D. (1971). Viscoelastic properties of polymers, Wiley, New York.
Goodrich, J. L. (1988). “Asphalt and polymer modified asphalt properties related to the performance of asphaltic concrete mixes.” Proc., Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists, 57, 116–175.
Green, E. L., and Tolonen, W. J. (1977). “The chemical and physical properties of asphalt-rubber mixtures.” Rep. ADOT-RS-14 (162), Arizona Dept. of Transportation, Phoenix.
Heitzman, M. (1992). “Design and construction of asphalt paving materials with crumb rubber modifier.” Transport Research Record 1339, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C., 1–8.
Highways Agency. (1992). “Clause 939.” Manual of contract documents for highway works, London.
Isacsson, U., and Lu, X.(1995). “Testing and appraisal of polymer modified road bitumens—state of the art.” Mater. Struct., 28, 139–159.
Kuppens, E. A. M. (1995). “Ageing resistance of bitumen.” Proc., Rheology of Bituminous Binders European Workshop, Eurobitume, Brussels, Paper 49.
Labout, J. W. A. (1950). “Constitution of asphaltic bitumen.” The properties of asphaltic bitumen, J. P. Pfeiffer, ed., Elsevier, New York, 13–48.
Linde, S., and Johansson, U. (1992). “Thermo-oxidative degradation of polymer modified bitumen.” Polymer modified asphalt binders, K. R. Wardlaw and S. Shuler, eds., ASTM, West Conshohocken, Pa., 244–253.
Singleton, T. M., Airey, G. D., Widyatmoko, I., and Collop, A. C. (2000a). “Residual bitumen characteristics following dry process rubber-bitumen interaction.” Proc., Asphalt Rubber 2000 Conf., Vilamoura, Portugal, 463–482.
Singleton, T. M., Airey, G. D., and Collop, A. C. (2000b). “Effect of rubber-bitumen interaction on the mechanical durability of impact absorbing asphalt.” Proc., 2nd Eurasphalt and Eurobitume Congress, Barcelona, Spain, 1053–1060.
Takallou, H. B. (1988). “Development of improved mix and construction guidelines for rubber modified asphalt pavements.” Transport Research Record 1171, Transportation Research Board, Washington, D.C.
Treloar, L. R. G. (1975). The physics of rubber elasticity, 3rd Ed., Oxford, U.K.
Vonk, W. C., and Bull, A. L. (1989). “Phase phenomena and concentration effects in blends of bitumen and cariflex TR.” Proc., 7th Int. Roofing Congress, Munich, Germany.
Whiteoak, C. D. (1995). The Shell Bitumen industrial handbook, Shell Bitumen, Surrey, U.K.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
Copyright © 2002 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 14, 2000
Accepted: Jun 5, 2001
Published online: Jul 15, 2002
Published in print: Aug 2002
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.