Investigation on the Effect of Ethylene Bis(Stearamide) and Polyphosphoric Acid Modification of Bitumen for Paving Applications

Abstract

In this study, the mutual effect of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and ethylene bis(stearamide) (EBS) modification was examined on the high and low service temperatures and viscosity of a performance grade (PG) 58-22 asphalt binder as a conventional neat bitumen widely used for paving applications. Three different dosages of PPA, including 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% were used to modify the neat asphalt binder, and 3% of EBS as a selected percentage was added to PPA-modified samples. The dynamic shear rheometer was used to evaluate the high-temperature properties of the neat and modified bitumens based on standard Superpave protocol parameter (G*/sinδ) and multiple stress creep and recovery test. The low service temperatures of the samples were determined using the bending beam rheometer test. Also, the high-temperature ranges viscosities of the samples were evaluated using a series of rotational viscometer tests. The results have shown that increasing the PPA dosage up to 1.5% enhances the high service temperature of the neat asphalt binder 20.4°C and 14.7°C based on Superpave protocol and multiple stress creep and recovery test, respectively. However, it deteriorates the low-temperature performance of modified binders from −24.3°C to −16.9°C. The EBS can significantly compensate for the negative effect of PPA modification on the low-temperature behavior of modified bitumens. The optimum combination was 1% PPA+3% EBS as it provides a similar low-temperature grade to the neat asphalt binder having a significant two grades enhancement of high service temperature. Modifying a PPA-modified asphalt binder with EBS can reduce its viscosity at high temperatures, leading to saving energy of mixing and compaction.