![Sample our Engineering & Technology journals, sign in here to start your access, latest two full volumes FREE to you for 14 days]({"type":"image" , "src" : "/sda/5933/TOC-Subject-Sample-2021-Engineering-Tech.jpg"})
ABSTRACT
Fractionation of asphalt materials by using supercritical cyclohexane and pentane has been successfully conducted. Each of three asphalts was fractionated into ten fractions. These asphalts and their fractions were then characterized by a variety of analyses including Corbett chromatographic separation, infrared analysis, refractive index- and intrinsic viscosity-size exclusion chromatography (gel permeation chromatography), and elemental analysis by atomic absorption. The fractions were then reblended to produce materials of typical asphalt consistency. These blends were then subjected to oxidative aging in a pressure oxidation vessel and were found, in some cases, to have improved aging characteristics in the sense that they did not harden in response to a given carbonyl formation (oxidation) as much as normal asphalt materials. Hence, the supercritical fractionation technique is considered to have great potential for producing improved asphalt materials.