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Compatibility and storage stability of styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer modified bitumens

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Abstract

The compatibility and storage stability of styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS) modified bitumens were studied using fluorescence microscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis. Chemical characteristics of base bitumens and SBS polymers were determined by means of thin layer and gel permeation chromatography, respectively. The results showed that the morphology and phase separation of the modified binders varied with the characteristics of bitumens and polymers and were influenced by polymer content. At a given polymer content, the modified binders produced from bitumens with a higher content of aromatics exhibited better compatibility and higher storage stability. An increase in asphaltenes was observed to adversely affect storage stability. When mixing a small amount of polymer with bitumen, the modified binder showed dispersed polymer particles. At relatively high polymer content, depending on the base bitumens used, a continuous SBS phase was observed. On the other hand, the storage stability of modified binders decreased with increasing SBS content. Compared with branched SBS polymer, linear SBS displayed a finer dispersion in modified binder, and consequently, a lower phase separation was observed during hot storage. The degree of SBS dispersion in bitumen influenced storage stability and the rheological properties of modified binders; however, no definite relationships among them could be established.

Résumé

La compatibilité et la stabilité au stockage des bitumes modifiés par des copolymères styrène-butadiène-styrène (SBS) ont été étudiées au moyen de la microscopie à fluorescence et de l'analyse rhéologique dynamique. Les caractéristiques chimiques des bitumes de base ont été déterminées par chromatographie en couche mince alors que celles des polymères SBS l'ont été par chromatographie à pennéation de gel. Les résultats ont montré que la morphologie et la séparation de phases des liants modifiés variaient sclon les caractéristiques des bitumes et des polymères et qu'elles étaient influencées par le contenu en polymères. Pour une teneur en polymères donnée, les liants modifiés à base de bitumes ayant un fort taux d'aromatiques ont montré une meilleure compatibilité et une plus grande stabilité au stockage. Il a été observé qu'une augmentation de la teneur en asphaltènes dégradait la stabilité au stockage. Pour des teneurs en polymère faibles, l'observation des liants modifiés montre des particules de polym``ere dispersées dans la phase bitume. À des teneurs relativement importantes en polymère, mais variables selon le bitume de base utilisé, on observe une phase polymère continue. Par contre, la stabilité au stockage des liants modifiés diminue lorsque la teneur en SBS augmente. En comparaison avec un polymère SBS de type radial (ramifié), le polymère SBS de type linéaire donne des dispersions plus fines qui se traduisent par une moindre tendance à la séparation de phases lors du stockage à chaud. Le degré de dispersion du polymère SBS dans le bitume influence à la fois la stabilité au stockage et les propriétés rhéologiques des liants modifiés. On n'a cependant pas pu établir de relations précises entre ces propriétés.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Highway Engineering, Royal Institute of Technology, S-100 44, Stockholm, Sweden

    X. Lu & U. Isacsson

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  1. X. Lu
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  2. U. Isacsson
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Editorial note Mr. Ulf Isacsson is a RILEM Senior Member. He is a member of TC 152-PBM on Performance of Bituminous Materials.

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Lu, X., Isacsson, U. Compatibility and storage stability of styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer modified bitumens. Mat. Struct. 30, 618–626 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02486904

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