1
National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar - 144011, Punjab (INDIA)
2
Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited
Corporate Research and Development Centre Greater Noida
Abstract
Corresponding Author : Dr. M.K.Jha Professor and Head Department of Chemical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Jalandhar, Punjab (India)-144011
E-mail: jhamk@nitj.ac.in
50 Prashant Kumar, et al.
steps has been taken to improve the functioning be produced by successive polymerization of
of bitumen mixtures. These steps lead to the styrene and the midblock monomer butadiene,
basic variation in the design of bitumen pave- followed by a reaction with a coupling agent.
ments. For improving the bitumen characteristics, So, not only linear copolymers but also multi-
specific performance enhancers have been armed copolymers (known as star-shaped,
analyzed. These include additive modification, radial or branched copolymers) can be produced.
polymer modification and crumb rubber The structure of a SBS copolymer therefore
modification etc.24. Modified Binders are more consists of styrene butadiene styrene tri-block
stable under heavy loads, braking and accele- chains, having a two-phase morphology of
rating forces and shows increased resistance spherical polystyrene block domains within a
to permanent deformation in hot weather. It matrix of poly-butadiene21.
resists fatigue loads and having better adhesion
between aggregates and binders8,9. SBS copolymers derive their strength
and elasticity from physical cross-linking of the
In general, addition of polymers to molecules into a three-dimensional network.
bitumen mixtures enhances the resistance of The polystyrene end blocks impart the strength
bitumen to fatigue cracking, rutting, temperature to the polymer while the poly-butadiene
cracking and stripping. In polymer modification rubbery matrix mid-blocks give the material
various types of additives are incorporated such its outstanding elasticity. The efficiency of
as virgin polymers, recycled plastics, etc. Indeed these cross-links diminishes rapidly above the
polymer modified bitumen is emerging as one glass transition temperature of polystyrene
of the important construction materials for (approximately 100oC), although the polystyrene
flexible pavement10-20. domains will reform on cooling restoring the
strength and elasticity of the copolymer21,22.
Straight run bitumen, the characteristics
of which have been improved by addition of As SBS is blended with bitumen, the
polymers, namely, styrene-butadiene-styrene elastomeric phase of the SBS copolymer
(SBS), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyethylene absorbs the maltenes (oil fractions) from the
(PE) etc. bitumen and swells up to nine times its initial
Styrene–butadiene styrene (SBS) is volume21. At appropriate SBS concentrations,
one of the most commonly used bitumen a continuous polymer network (phase) is formed
modifiers for paving applications10 and is used throughout the PMB, considerably modifying
in this study. Styrenic tri-block copolymers, the bitumen properties. As thermoplastic
commonly termed thermoplastic rubbers due rubbers have molecular weights similar to or
to their ability to unite both elastic and thermo- higher than that of the asphaltenes, they
plastic properties, can be produced by a compete for the solvency power of the maltene
sequential operation of following polymerization phase and phase separation can occur if
inadequate maltenes are available. This phase
of styrene butadiene styrene (SBS)23-34.
separation is an sign of the incompatibility of
Alternatively, a di-block precursor can the base bitumen and polymer and care should
Study on effects of polymer on properties of bitumen. 51
be taken when blending thermoplastic rubber structuring over time (steric hardening) and
PMBs. The compatibility of the SBS—bitumen actinic light (primarily ultraviolet radiation,
blend can be enhanced through the addition of particularly in desert conditions)10.
aromatic oils. However, too high an aromatic
content in the blend will dissolve the polystyrene The objectives of the present works are:
blocks and wipe out the benefits of the SBS To investigate the influence of polymer
copolymer9-19. molecular weight, structure and polymer
dosage on the performance properties of
Ageing of conventional bitumen, as polymer modified bitumen
well as PMBs, is induced by chemical and/or To find out the most suitable polymer modifier
physical changes that take place during the for bitumen modification
production of the pavement and throughout its
service life. Ageing (hardening) is primarily 2.0. Material and Methods
related with the loss of volatile components
and oxidation of the bitumen during asphalt A VG10 viscosity grade base bitumen
mixture construction (short-term ageing) and has been taken from BPCL refinery. In order
progressive oxidation of the in-place material to characterize the properties of the base
in the field (long-term ageing). Both processes bitumen, conventional test methods such as;
are usually accompanied by hardening of the penetration test, softening point test, ductility
binder, which general influences the deterioration test, etc. were performed. These tests were
of the bitumen pavement. Other factors may conducted in conformity with the relevant test
also contribute to ageing, such as molecular methods that are presented in Table 1.
Three SBS polymers were used in this study to modify the bitumen.
The details are given below
Table 2. Polymer Modifiers properties
STYRENE BUTADIENE BROOKFIELD
POLYMER/PROPERTIES STRUCTURE
(%) (%) VISCOSITY
C.P.1 RADIAL 30 70 18500 CPS
C.P. 2 LINEAR 31 69 3900 CPS
C.P.-3 RADIAL 30 70 11100 CPS
to product prepared with low molecular weight on elastic recovery and higher molecular
polymer. The results show that the product weight polymer products shows marginally
prepared with radial structure polymer is better elasticity than less molecular weight
showing less penetration than product prepare products. From the results, it is observed that
with linear polymer. This may be the fact that radial structured polymer product found to give
the radial structured polymer interacts better better elastic recovery than that linear structured
than linear polymer with base bitumen11-20. polymer product. This can be attributed to the
fact that radial structured polymers have better
Softening Point (R&B) : tensile strength as compared to linear structured
polymer, and also it has better chemical interaction
Softening Point (R&B) is the temperature
with asphaltene molecules31-34.
at which bitumen sample began to flow. It is
observed from figure 2 that using polymer or Rotational Viscosity:
crumb rubber increases the softening point of
the final product. Specifically PMB P-1 shows Rotational viscosity is done to check
26.1% increase, PMB P-2 shows 47.26 % the pumpability of the bitumen samples. It can
increase, PMB P-3 shows 47.26 % increase be observed from fig. 4 rotational viscosity of
and PMB P-4 shows 26.1 % increase in base bitumen is low but modified bitumen
softening point temperature as compared to product shows high viscosity and rotational
base bitumen. The softening point increases viscosity of the base bitumen is measured at
with increase in weight percentage of polymer 135°C and for modified bitumen it is measured
and remains unaffected by the change of at 150 °C. Specific observations are that the
molecular weight and structure of the polymer viscosity of the bitumen increases with increase
for the polymer modified bitumen product21-30. in weight percentage of polymer content.
Expectedly, high molecular weight polymer
Elastic Recovery : products show more viscosity than low
molecular weight polymer products. Radial
It is observed from figure 3 that
polymer product shows much better result for
modified bitumen products which were made
rotational viscosity as compared to linear
using elastomeric polymers shows good elasticity.
polymer product15-34.
Elastic recovery property depends upon tensile
strength of the materials used. Specifically
Separation Difference in Softening Points
PMB P-1 shows 70% elastic recovery, PMB (R&B) :
P-2 shows 89% elastic recovery, PMB P-3
shows 74 % elastic recovery and PMB P-4 Polymers have a tendency to settle
shows 71% elastic recovery. The elastic recovery down at the bottom of the container, and
of the PMBs increases with increase in weight bitumen comes on top. The results are shown
percentage of the polymer content. Molecular in figure 5. PMB P-1 has separation difference
weight of the polymer shows a negligible effect of 2 °C; PMB P-2 has separation difference of
54 Prashant Kumar, et al.
1 °C, PMB P-3 has separation difference of 6.12%, PMB P-2 has retained of 10.42 %,
2 °C and PMB P-4 has separation difference PMB P-3 has retained of 25%, and PMB P-4
of 2 °C in upper and top layer of bitumen. All has retained of 26.3% of their penetration
the PMBs are showing good storage stability value after TOFT test. Low weight percentage
irrespective of their structure, polymer content polymer product has retained more penetration
and molecular weight23-27. values than high weight percentage polymer
product (%w/w). It is also observed that high
Loss in mass on heating : molecular weight polymer product performs
better than low molecular weight a product
Loss in mass on heating is done by which is explained from the data that low
thin film oven test. Volatile matter evaporates molecular weight polymer product retained
in the TOFT as heating is done for 5 hours at more penetration value than high molecular
163 °C. weight polymer product. Radial structured
polymer products are performing better than
All the modified bitumen samples and linear structured polymer products as linear
unmodified bitumen sample show less than 1 structured polymer product has retained much
percentage weight loss after TOFT. No more penetration than radial structured
noticeable variation is observed. polymer17-34.
Fig. 2. R&B Softening Point Test Results for base bitumen, PMB samples
Fig. 4.Rotational Viscosity Test Results for Base Bitumen, PMB samples
Fig. 5. Separtion Difference in Softening Point (R&B) °C, Test Results for PMB samples
58 Prashant Kumar, et al.
5.0 Conclusions
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