Characterisation of complex polymer modified bitumen with rheological parameters

Abstract

The use of modifiers for bituminous binders has become common practice to enhance the performances of asphalt materials. As a result, the binder becomes more complex, with various phase morphologies. Conventional testing methods may not always be suitable. As example, the European standardisation committee is looking at different ways to characterise Polymer modified Bitumen. The RILEM Technical Committee 272-PIM ‘Phase and Interphase behaviour of innovative bituminous Materials’, with its Task Group TG1, is evaluating different test methods for complex binders. The aim is to evaluate how these tests could address complex bituminous binders. An inter-laboratory programme was conducted with 17 laboratories. Seven binders were evaluated; two were neat bitumen and two PmB. In addition to the conventional property measurements, an extensive effort was made on investigating various rheological parameters obtained from Dynamic Shear Rheometer measurements. Some initial results are presented and discussed in view of the future revision of the European product standard EN 14023 for PmB.

KEYWORDS:

• Bituminous binder
• polymer modified bitumen
• DSR
• rheology

Acknowledgements

This work was developed by the task group TG1 within the RILEM TC 272 PIM. The authors would like to acknowledge the active support of participating laboratories and experts having provided data and analysed especially M. Makowska from Aalto University, S. Vansteenkiste from Belgium Road Research Center, V. Mouillet from CEREMA, X. Carbonneau from Colas, P. Apostollidis from Delft Technical University, C. Raab from Empa, E. Chailleux from Université Gustave Eiffel, D. Menshing from FHWA, L. Porot from Kraton, Runhua Zhang from New Hampshire University, H. Soenen from Nynas and A. Margaritis from Antwerp University, K. Plug from Strukton, L. Tsantilis from Politecnico di Torino, J. Zhu from VTI, M. D Elwardany from Western Research Institute.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).