Effect of Thermochromic Materials on the Properties of SBS-Modified Asphalt Mixture

Abstract

Styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymers (SBS)–modified asphalt mixture is widely used in high grade roads because of its excellent comprehensive performance. However, the black characteristics and high temperature susceptibility of asphalt binder have a great impact on the performance of asphalt mixture. This paper mainly investigates the influence of different types of thermochromic materials on the properties of SBS-modified asphalt mixture, including high- and low-temperature performance, water stability, and the aging effect of the natural environment on asphalt mixture (natural aging). According to test results, thermochromic materials slightly reduce the high-temperature performance of SBS-modified asphalt mixture. All three kinds of thermochromic materials can improve the low-temperature crack resistance of SBS-modified asphalt mixture, among which red thermochromic material with 2% content (named as 2%RTP) is the best. In addition, thermochromic materials of different colors can improve the water stability of SBS-modified asphalt mixture, and black thermochromic material with 2% content (named as 2%BTP) exhibits the best effect on improving the water stability. All three thermochromic materials can improve the antinatural aging property of SBS-modified asphalt mixture.