Effect of Rejuvenators on Performance and Microstructure of Aged Asphalt

A composite rejuvenator was used for the rejuvenation of aged asphalt in comparison with the common rejuvenator. The effects of the rejuvenators on the performance and microstructure of the aged asphalt were investigated by physical properties tests, dynamic shear rheometer and atomic force microscopy. The results indicate that the physical and rheological properties of the aged asphalt are restored more significantly by the composite rejuvenator than the common rejuvenator, which can be ascribed to the effective recovery of microstmcture of the aged asphalt. The composite rejuvenator has the potential to be used for the rejuvenation of severely aged asphalt since it can restore the colloidal structure of the aged asphalt effectively through composition regulation and chemical reactions between the composite rejuvenator and asphaltenes.

Evaluation of Compatibilizers for Improving Compatibility between Waste Vegetable Oil and Aged Asphalt

Modifying agents 2,2-Bis(4-glycidyloxyphenyl)propane(2BPE)and dibutyl phthalate(DBP)were selected to enhance the compatibility.By using molecular simulation software(Materials Studio,MS),nine systems were constructed,including molecular models of aged asphalt and WVO monomers with 2BPE and/or DBP.The solubility parameters,Flory-Huggins parameters,and interaction energies of these systems were calculated to determine the impact of 2BPE and DBP on the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt.Results showed that the addition of 2BPE and DBP reduced the difference in the solubility parameters between WVO and aged asphalt,thus improving the compatibility between WVO and aged asphalt.Additionally,using a combination of 2BPE and DBP in both aged asphalt and rejuvenator was found to be more effective than using either 2BPE or DBP alone.Finally,it was determined that evaluating the compatibility of WVO and aged asphalt using Van der Waals potential and non-bonding energy as evaluation indicators was more accurate than using electrostatic potential energy.

Laboratory Evaluation of Performance Recovery of Aged SBS-modified Asphalt Using Regenerants with Different Base Oil Components

In this study,the regenerative effects of different regenerants on aged SBS-modified asphalt from different perspectives were investigated,including their conventional properties,viscoelastic behavior,creep-related properties,and micromorphology.Base oils composed of different proportions of aromatic and saturated hydrocarbons as well as the styrene-butadiene-styrene(SBS)restorer were used to prepare the regenerants.The results showed that the components of the base oil of the regenerant played a crucial role in determining the characteristics and performance of the recycled SBSmodified asphalt.Regenerants containing a high proportion of aromatics dissolved the hard segment in the SBS restorer,thereby delaying the effect of a reduction in the regenerants on the performance of the aged asphalts at a high temperature.Regenerants containing a high proportion of saturates dissolved the soft segment in the SBS restorer to enhance the lowtemperature performance of the recycled asphalts.In addition,the stress sensitivity of the recycled asphalts increased with the fraction of aromatics in the regenerant.As the aromatic content of the base oil components of the regenerants increased and their saturate content decreased,the state of dispersion of the SBS phase in the recycled SBS-modified asphalts improved.The optimal content of aromatics in the base oil of the regenerants should be set in the range of 33%to 47%to ensure the adequate performance of the recycled asphalts and a high efficiency of the SBS restorer.

Molecular dynamics simulation on the rejuvenation effects of waste cooking oil on aged asphalt binder

Waste cooking oil(WCO)has received attention on rejuvenating aged asphalt binder widely in recent years.This study evaluated the rejuvenation effects of WCO on aged asphalt binder on the micro-scale using molecular dynamics(MD)simulation.First,the representative molecules of WCO and asphalt binders were selected.The molecular mixture model was then developed.The thermodynamic properties were investigated,including density,cohesive energy density,solubility parameter,and surface free energy.The results show that WCO can restore the thermodynamic properties of aged asphalt binder to some extent and WCO has different influences on electrostatic interactions and van der Waals effects.From the diffusion behavior and molecular structure of asphalt binder,WCO can improve the molecular mobility and restore the colloidal structure.Besides,the adhesion work and moisture susceptibility of asphalt binder-aggregate interfaces(calcite and quartz)were evaluated.The results show that WCO can improve adhesion work between asphalt binder and aggregates since WCO can change molecular structure of asphalt binders and certain adhesion work exists between WCO and aggregates.Also,it can mitigate the moisture susceptibility of asphalt binder-aggregate interfaces(calcite and quartz).The study demonstrates that the MD simulation can help to understand the rejuvenation effects of WCO on aged asphalt binder on the micro-scale.

Effect of Epoxy Resin on the Properties of Recycled Asphalt

To promote the recycling of reclaimed asphalt pavement(RAP),epoxy resin was used to prepare the epoxy-recycled asphalt mixtures.The effect of epoxy resin on the properties of aged asphalt binder was investigated based on the tensile test,flexural creep test,and laser scanning confocal microscopy.The curing characteristics and the mechanical performance of recycled asphalt with different epoxy contents were explored.The results show that the low-temperature performance,ductility,and strength of the aged asphalt binder were significantly improved when the epoxy content reached 40%.The curing time of epoxy-recycled asphalt should be at least 4 d to ensure the formation of good internal spatial network structure.

Physical-Rheological Properties and Performances of Rejuvenated(Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene)Asphalt with Polymerized-MDI and Aromatic Oil

Traditional asphalt rejuvenators,like aromatic oil(AO),are known to be effective in improving the low-temperature properties and fatigue performances of aged SBS(styrene-butadiene-styrene)modified asphalt(SBSMA)binders and mixtures.However,these rejuvenators inevitably compromise their high-temperature properties and deformation resistances because they dilute asphalt binder but do not fix the damaged structures of aged SBS.In this study,a highly-active chemical called polymerized 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate(PMDI)was used to assist the traditional AO asphalt rejuvenator.The physical and rheological characteristics of rejuvenated SBSMA binders and the moisture-induced damage and rut deformation performances of corresponding mixtures were comparatively evaluated.The results showed that the increasing proportion of AO compromises the hightemperature property and hardness of aged SBSMA binder,and an appropriate amount of PMDI works to compensate such losses;3%rejuvenator at mass ratio of AO:PMDI=70:30 can have a rejuvenated SBSMA binder with a high-temperature performance similar to that of fresh binder,approximately at 71.4°C;the use of AO can help reduce the viscosity of PMDI rejuvenated SBSMA binder for improving its workability;PMDI can help improve the resistance of AO rejuvenated SBSMA binder to deformation,especially at elevated temperatures,through its chemical reactions with aged SBS;moisture induction can enhance the resistance to damage of rejuvenated mixtures containing AO/PMDI or only PMDI;and the rejuvenator with a mass ratio of AO:PMDI=70:30 can lead the rejuvenated mixture to meet the application requirement,with a rut depth of only 2.973 mm,although more PMDI can result in a higher resistance of rejuvenated mixtures to high-temperature deformation.