Novel Method to Prepare Activated Crumb Rubber Used for Synthesis of Activated Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt

Abstract

This work introduced a novel method to prepare activated crumb rubber by using ultrasonic focusing apparatus, which could more significantly improve the compatibility between the activated crumb rubber and virgin asphalt compared with ordinary crumb rubber. The obtained activated crumb rubber was used for the synthesis of activated crumb rubber modified asphalt (ACRMA) by blending virgin asphalt, activated crumb rubber, and certain additives (e.g., SBS, antiaging agent, filler). The performance test results indicated that ACRMA had better performance than the ordinary crumb rubber modified asphalt, in terms of high-temperature property, low-temperature stiffness, ductility, especially fatigue resistance, and aging resistance. In this case, the application of novel method of activated crumb rubber synthesis could accelerate the material acceptance rate in pavement engineering.