Abstract
In this paper, experimental support is provided showing the importance of polyaromaticity on the elastic properties of bituminous binders. Especially the size of the polyaromatic structures seems to play a crucial role. The observations indicate that larger conjugated aromatic structures provide stronger interactions and relate to the elastic behaviour at longer loading times or up to higher temperatures, while smaller aromatic structures determine more the elastic behaviour at short loading times or at low temperatures. In addition to aromatic interactions, natural wax can, upon crystallization, also induce increased elastic effects, especially at low frequencies. A large variety of binders was investigated: bitumen from straight distillation, visbreaking, solvent deasphalting and oxidation were included in the sample set. Average levels of aromaticity were determined by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and by refractive index measurements. Chromatography combined with UV-visible absorption spectroscopy was used as an indicator of the average size of the aromatic structures. Rheological properties were determined using a dynamic shear rheometer, in a temperature range from 0 up to 90 °C. Good relations were observed between the phase angle measurements, at specific test conditions of frequency and temperature, and UV-vis absorption levels at specific wavelengths.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Airey G (2002) Use of black diagrams to identify inconsistencies in rheological data. Road Mater Pavement Des 3(4):403–424
Bartle KD, Mills DG, Mulligan MJ, Amaechina IO, Taylor N (1986) Errors in the determination of molecular mass distributions of coal derivatives by size-exclusion chromatography. Anal Chem 58:2403–2408
Buckley JS (1999) Predicting the onset of asphaltene precipitation from refractive index measurements. Energy Fuel 13:328–332
Chambon F, Winter HH (1987) Linear viscoelasticity at the gel point of a crosslinking PDMS with imbalanced stoichiometry. J Rheol 31(8):683–697
Claudy PM, Létoffé J-M, Martin D, Planche J-P (1998) Thermal behaviour of asphalt cements. Thermochim Acta 324:203–213
Doi M, Edwards SF (1986) The theory of polymer dynamics. Clarendon, Oxford
Eriksson L, Johansson E, Kettaneh-Wold N, Wikström C, Wold S (2008) Design of experiments. Principles and Applications, Umetrics Academy, ISBN 91-973730-4-4
Jennings PW, Pribanic JA, Raub MF, Smith JA, Mendes TM (1993) Advanced high performance gel permeation chromatography methodology. SHRP-A630 National Research Council, Washington DC
Lamontagne J, Dumas P, Mouillet V, Kister J (2001) Comparison by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of different techniques: application to road bitumens. Fuel 80:483–488
Lu X, Langton M, Olofsson P, Redelius P (2005) Wax morphology in bitumen. J Mat Sci 40:1893–1900
Nellensteyn FJ (1924) The constitution of asphalt. Inst Petrol Technol Vol 10:311–325
Petersen JC, Robertson RE, Branthaver JF et al (1994) Binder characterization and evaluation. Vol 1, SHRP report A-367 National Research Council, Washington D C
Pfeiffer JP, Saal RNJ (1940) Asphaltic bitumen as colloid systems. J Phys Chem 44:139–149
Planche J-P, Claudy PM, Létoffé J-M, Martin D (1998) Using thermal analysis methods to better understand asphalt rheology. Thermochim Acta 324:223–227
Redelius PG (2000) Solubility parameters and bitumen. Fuel 79:27–35
Redelius P, Soenen H (2005) Correlation between bitumen polarity and rheology. Road Mater Pavement Des 6(3):385–405
Redelius P, Soenen H (2014) Relation between bitumen chemistry and performance. Accepted for publication in Fuel.
Robinson RP (2006) Petroleum processing overview. In: Hsu CS, Robinson PR (eds) Practical advances in petroleum processing volume 1. Springer Science Business Media Inc, Berlin, pp 1–76
Soenen H, De Visscher J, Vanelstraete A, Redelius P (2006) Influence of thermal history on rheological properties of various bitumen. Rheol Acta 45(5):729–739
Soenen H, Besamusca J, Fischer H, Poulikakos LD, Planche J-P, Das P, Kringos N, Grenfell J, Lu X, Chailleux E (2014) Laboratory investigation of bitumen based on round robin DSC and AFM tests. Mater Struct 47:1205–1220
Soraya AK (2002) Refractive index of standard oils as a function of wavelength and temperature. Opt Laser Technol 34:125–128
te Nijenhuis K (2007) On the nature of crosslinks in thermoreversible gels. Polym Bull 58:27–42
Acknowledgments
The authors wish to thank Serge Heyrman for his considerable support in the experimental part of the paper.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Soenen, H., Redelius, P. The effect of aromatic interactions on the elasticity of bituminous binders. Rheol Acta 53, 741–754 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-014-0792-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-014-0792-0