Rheological properties and chemical characterisation of reacted and activated rubber modified asphalt binder

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the rheological and chemical properties of crumb rubber modified asphalt binder. Reacted and activated rubber (RAR) with different rubber contents were used to modify the asphalt binder, including 15%, 25%, 30%, 35% and 40% by mass of RAR modified asphalt binder. In general, the test results were favourable in rutting resistance performance, fatigue cracking resistance and low-temperature cracking resistance. The addition of RAR led to an improvement of elastic properties and a decrease in viscous features of the binders. The RAR behaved as an anti-cracking additive to increase the service life of asphalt pavements. At a strain level of 5.0%, the binder fatigue life of 15% RAR, 25% RAR, 30% RAR, 35% RAR, 40% RAR and 12% Terminal Blend were 13, 24, 30, 43, 45 and 18 times higher than that of the control binder, respectively. The absorbance growth height increased with increasing amounts of RAR additives in the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy spectra. A linear correlation was found between the RAR content of the binder and the area under the band at 3642 cm⁻¹ and the ratio of the bands at 3642 and 1376 cm⁻¹.

Keywords:

• Crumb rubber
• Asphalt binder
• Rheological properties
• Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)

Acknowledgements

This study is sponsored by the Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the former Michigan Department of Environmental Qualify (MDEQ) through Road Commission of Kalamazoo County of the United States. The authors appreciate the guidance and involvement of Joanna I. Johnson, Mark Worden, Ryan J. Minkus and Travis Bartholomew of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County. The authors express their appreciation to Nicole Mielcarek of Michigan Technological University with the assistance in performing lab tests. Special thanks are rendered to Jorge B. Sousa in Consulpav for the patient guidance of the RAR modified binder preparation. Trademark or manufacturer names appear in this paper only because they are considered essential to the object of this paper.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Michigan Dept. of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, the former Michigan Department of Environmental Qualify (MDEQ) through Road Commission of Kalamazoo County of the United States: [Grant Number 2018].