Evaluation of the Aging of Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene Modified Asphalt Binder with Different Polymer Additives

A wide variety of polymer additives have been widely used in recent years. However, the effect of different polymer additives on the durability of asphalt binders has not been investigated thoroughly. To evaluate the aging property of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) asphalt binder with different polymer additives, three polymer modifiers, namely high modulus modifier (HMM), anti-rutting agent (ARA), and high viscosity modifier (HVM), were added to it. First, the Thin Film Over Test (TFOT) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) was performed on the asphalt binders. The rheological properties of the four asphalt binders before and after aging were then checked by the Dynamic Shear Rheometer Test (DSR). The chemical compositions of the asphalt binders were determined by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) test. Several aging indicators were adopted to reflect the aging degree of the asphalt binders. The results show that when polymer additives are added to the SBS asphalt binder, the complex modulus, storage modulus, loss modulus, and rutting factor substantially increase and the phase angle decreases. All the test parameters become higher after aging. The phase angle of the SBS asphalt binder is the highest at both unaged and aged states, while its other parameters values are the smallest. Moreover, the Carbonyl Aging Indicator (CAI) of SBS with polymer additives becomes lower under both TFOT and PAV conditions, indicating that polymer additives can improve the aging resistance of SBS asphalt, of which HVM modifies the aging resistance best. Complex Modulus Aging Indicator (CMAI) and Storage Modulus Aging Indicator (SMAI) have the best correlation coefficients with CAI, and the two aging indicators can be used to predict the aging degree of polymer modified asphalt binders.

Automated summary

Polymer additives have been widely used, but their effects on the durability of asphalt binders have not been thoroughly investigated. Adding polymer modifiers to SBS asphalt binders improves aging resistance, with high viscosity modifier (HVM) showing the best results. Various aging indicators can predict the aging degree of polymer modified asphalt binders.