A New Polymeric Modifier for Bitumen

Polymer-modified bitumens are amongst the highest performing binders for asphaltic pavements. This is mainly due to the merging high traffic loads which these modified bitumen are needed. Different polymers are added into the bitumen of the hot-mixes to avoid shortcomings of the conventional non-modified mixes. Polyethylene, polypropylene, SBR, SBS based copolymer, EPDM, and the blends of these polymers and copolymers and some polymeric wastes are incorporated into the bitumen in paving and roofing membrane applications. A compatibilized blend of polystyrene, polybutadiene and styrene-butadiene random rubber was prepared by melt mixing and added into the bitumen along with a flow modifier oil (heavy vacuum slops, HVS). The modification was conducted at a rate of 5% and the resulting bituminous mixture showed good physical properties at low and high temperatures.

Keywords:

polymer blend , bitumen , asphalt , PS , PBR , SBR