Determination of the Binder Content of Fine Aggregate Matrices Prepared with Modified Binders

Abstract

The first purpose of this paper was to check the applicability of some design methods of fine aggregate matrices (FAM) to modified asphalt binders. Because of shortcomings observed during the replication of those methods, a second objective was outlined: to develop a simpler, less experimental procedure applicable to modified asphalt binders. In the proposed procedure, the binder content of the FAM produced with the neat binder (reference binder content) was determined by means of the concept of specific surface. The binder contents for the FAMs produced with the modified asphalt binders were obtained by multiplying the reference binder content by a ratio that is calculated by dividing the binder content obtained in the design of the hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixture produced with each modified asphalt binder by the binder content of the HMA mixture produced with the conventional asphalt binder. The ignition method and the method based on the specific surface yielded equivalent reference binder contents. The proposed procedure proved to be efficient and independent of the modified binder used.