POLYMER MODIFICATION OF ARAB ASPHALT

Neat asphalt binders lack the proper viscoelastic balance that usually occurs when an effective elastic network is created by molecular asso ciation. It is hypothesized that proper viscoelastic balance can be fo rmed by creating molecular entanglement in asphalt through the use of high molecular weight polymeric additives. In this research, a procedu re for modifying asphalt binders was developed, together with criteria to evaluate the effectiveness of the polymer modification process. Th e procedure and criteria were used to modify Arab asphalt binders to s atisfy the performance requirements of the Gulf countries, in terms of rutting, fatigue, and low-temperature cracking. The data collected cl early indicated that polymer modification is effective in improving th e rheological properties of neat Arab asphalt binders to satisfy the p erformance requirements of the Gulf countries. Furthermore, life cycle cost analysis of various polymer modified mixtures indicated that pol ymer modification is feasible and economically justified.