Evaluation of rheological behaviors and anti-aging properties of recycled asphalts using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers

• Published in: Journal of cleaner production 2020-04, Vol.253, p.120048, Article 120048
• Main Authors: Ren, Shisong, Liu, Xueyan, Wang, Haopeng, Fan, Weiyu, Erkens, Sandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged asphalt; Crumb rubber (CR); Low-viscosity asphalt; Recycling; Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS)
• ISSN: 0959-6526; 1879-1786
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120048

Recycling technology is widely used in the asphalt road construction due to its environmental and economic effects. Many efforts have focused on the performance restoration of aged base asphalt by adding light oil, but the possibility of recycling the aged asphalt using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers has been few explored. Therefore, the objective of this research is to use polymer-modified low-viscosity asphalt as rejuvenator to recycle the aged asphalt. The conventional properties, rheological behaviors as well as anti-aging performance of polymer-modified recycled asphalts were evaluated by rotational viscosity (RV) tests, dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests. Moreover, the effects of the concentration ratio between polymer-modified low-viscosity asphalt rejuvenator and aged asphalt on the high-temperature anti-rutting, low-temperature cracking resistance, fatigue and aging resistance abilities of recycled asphalt were studied. The results show that the low-viscosity asphalt can increase viscous components and restore the workability of aged asphalt. However, the addition of low-viscosity asphalt weakens the high-temperature properties, temperature sensitivity and anti-aging performance of aged asphalt. Fortunately, the high-temperature rutting resistance, temperature sensitivity, viscoelastic properties, low-temperature cracking resistance, anti-fatigue and aging resistance performance of recycled asphalt can be enhanced remarkably by adding SBS and CR. Meanwhile, SBS-modified recycled asphalt has better fatigue and low temperature cracking resistance properties, while CR-modified recycled asphalt has the advantages on the rutting resistance, anti-aging and temperature sensitivity performance. Furthermore, SBS5-5 and CR6-4 modified recycled asphalts both have better pavement performance than others, which is superior to the requirements of polymer modified asphalt. Therefore, it is meaningful and feasible to recycle the aged base asphalt to be polymer-modified asphalt. •Possibility of low-viscosity asphalt and polymers for recycling of aged asphalt was explored.•Low-viscosity asphalt can restore the viscoelastic properties of aged asphalt.•SBS and CR both can enhance the rheological and anti-aging abilities of aged asphalt.•SBS-modified recycled asphalt has better fatigue and anti-cracking properties.•CR-modified recycled asphalt has the advantages on the rutting and aging resistance.