Rheological properties of bitumen modified with ethylene butylacrylate glycidylmethacrylate

This article presents experimental results related to rheological viscoelastic properties of polymer modified bitumens, PmBs. Experiments were performed by a dynamical shear rheometer before and after thermo-oxidative aging. Two types of bitumens with different asphaltene contents were modified by the addition of two types of reactive ethylene terpolymers, Elvaloy AM, and Elvaloy 4170, with a different percentage of reactive functional group, glycidylmethacrylate, GMA. Results of the investigation indicate that the degree of reactive polymer modification is a function of bitumen type, bitumen-polymer compatibility, and polymer concentration. Polymer modification improves the following physical properties of the base bitumen: penetration, softening point, temperature susceptibility, and elastic recovery. Reactive polymers are effective binder modifiers that improve the susceptibility to high temperature of asphalt mixes, and also their rutting resistance, contribute to their good storage stability and make them less sensitive to aging. This is a result of the formation of a chemical bond between the polymer and molecules of asphaltenes. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 54:1056-1065, 2014. (c) 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers