Airfield and Highway Pavements 2019 274
© ASCE
Impact of Asphalt Modifier Dosage on Modified Binder Rheology and Chemistry with
Long-Term Aging
Punit Singhvi
1
; Ahmet Karakas
2
; Hasan Ozer
3
; Imad L. Al-Qadi
4
; and Kamal Hossain
5
1
Graduate Research Assistant, Illinois Center for Transportation, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, 1611 Titan Dr., Rantoul, IL 61866. E-mail: singhvi3@illinois.edu
2
Visiting Scholar, Illinois Center for Transportation, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
1611 Titan Dr., Rantoul, IL 61866. E-mail: skarakas@istanbul.edu.tr
3
Research Assistant Professor, Illinois Center for Transportation, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, 1611 Titan Dr., Rantoul, IL 61866. E-mail: hozer2@illinois.edu
4
Bliss Professor of Engineering, Illinois Center for Transportation, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-
Champaign, 1611 Titan Dr., Rantoul, IL 61866. E-mail: alqadi@illinois.edu
5
Visiting Scholar, Illinois Center for Transportation, Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,
1611 Titan Dr., Rantoul, IL 61866. E-mail: kamalh@mun.ca
ABSTRACT
Asphalt modifiers/additives are increasingly used in pavement industry. Additives are
commonly used as softeners to decrease the binder performance grade (PG), while polymer
modifiers are usually used for heavy traffic applications to reduce permanent deformations.
Recently, rejuvenators have been used in recycled pavement applications to reduce cracking
susceptibility and as retarders to moisture damage. These modifiers can be derived from crude
petroleum and sometimes from a bio-based feedstock. The origin of crude binder and modifier
source affects the resulting binder-modifier chemical interaction. The inherent chemical
variability affects the rheological performance of modified binders. It also impacts the aging
potential of these binders and thereby affecting its long-term field performance. In this study,
binders modified with softeners/rejuvenators at various dosages were evaluated for their
performance under long-term aging. Rheological characterization of modified binders was
determined using frequency sweep, linear amplitude sweep, and low temperature performance
with parameters such as Glover-Rowe, R-value, crossover frequency, ∆Tc, while the chemical
characteristics were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thin
layer chromatography and flame ionization detection (TLC-FID). An optimum dosage of the
rejuvenator studied was recommended to maximize performance of the modified binder.
Keywords: Asphalt rheology, chemical characterization, long-term aging, asphalt
modification.
INTRODUCTION
Asphalt modifiers/additives are increasingly used in pavement industry. Additives are
commonly used as softeners to decrease binder performance grade (PG); while polymer
modifiers are used for heavy traffic applications to reduce permanent deformations. Recently,
rejuvenators have been used in recycled pavement applications to reduce cracking susceptibility
and as retarders to moisture damage. These modifiers were commonly derived from crude
petroleum and sometimes from bio-based products. The source of crude binders and modifiers
affects the resulting binder-modifier chemical interaction. The inherent chemical variability
affects the rheological performance of the modified binders. It also impacts the aging potential of
these binders and thereby affecting pavement long-term performance.
Airfield and Highway Pavements 2019
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