EFFECT OF POLYMER MODIFICATION ON ASPHALT CEMENT PROPERTIES

Abstract

As traffic volumes and axle loads have continued to increase over the years, it has been found that asphalt cement used in road construction has a less capable of rutting resistance, thermal cracking, fatigue damage, stripping, and temperature susceptibility. Hence the need to develop and improve the asphalt cement with a higher level of performance. In the present study, 60-70 asphalt cement from Daurah Refinery was used, and two types of polymer modifications as Ethyl Vinyl Acetate (EVA) and Styrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) have been used to prepare of modified asphalt cement at different percentage by weight (2%, 4%, and 6%). The effect of polymer modifications on asphalt cement properties are evaluated by many conventional tests such as (penetration, softening point, viscosity, ductility, elastic recovery, and specific gravity) that have been made on the modified and natural asphalt cements. By comparing the physical and mechanical properties of the modified and natural binders, it is found that the properties of the modified asphalt cement are enhanced manifold. Modified asphalt cement with exhibits greater elastic recovery, higher softening point, greater viscosity, greater cohesive strength and greater ductility. The optimum content of the modifier is 4% for SBS modifier, and 6% for EVA modifier.