Evaluation of Poly 2-Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate—Modified Bitumen Aging Using NMR and FTIR Techniques

Abstract

The aging of bitumen occurs during heating of bitumen and production, storage, transport, laying, and compaction of hot mix asphalt and asphalt pavement serviceability time. This study investigated the effect of poly 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (PHEMA) with different percentages (3%, 5%, and 7% by weight) on the aging of pure bitumen. The rolling thin film oven (RTFO) and a pressure aging vessel (PAV) tests were used to prepare short- and long-term aged bitumen. The physical and chemical structure of aged bitumen samples was investigated using softening point test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques. The result shows the PHEMA delays aging and thus decreases the aging indexes of bitumen.