| dc.description.abstract | Two straight asphalt binders, AC-10 and AC-20, have not meet the requirements of pavement materials in Taiwan because the dramatically traffic volume increases and the climate condition is hot and humid. Other than the issue of improving quality control and assurance for material and construction, the polymer-modified asphalt binders have been used and studied to solve this problem domestically. This study aimed at investigating the engineering and chemical properties and aging effects of eight modified asphalt binders, the straight asphalt binder AC-10 with eight types of modifications. The experimental program contained not only conventional tests such as Viscosity, Penetration, Softening Point tests, but also Thin-Layer Chromatography, Flame-Ionization Detector test, Dynamic Shear Rheometer test, Toughness test, and Segregation test. These polymer-modified asphalt binders were evaluated to recommend the suitable asphalts for the use of construction projects.
Based on the testing results, lower grade of straight asphalt needed much more amount of modification to have the same properties. From the view of engineering, upgrading straight asphalt can benefit the performance and cost-effectiveness of construction projects. Different modifications have different results for improving engineering properties of asphalt binders. Even the same modification possesses different properties when tested at low and high temperatures. For the use of polymer-modified asphalt binders, it is recommended that the different polymer-modified asphalt binders should meet different requirements for Toughness measurements. In addition, because of loading and climate conditions, the viscosity-graded AC-30 and upper grades, or the pen 60/70 or lower grades, were recommended for the use of Taiwan area pavements. | en_US |