Yj. Lee et al., THE EFFECT OF NETWORK FORMATION ON THE RHEOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF SBR MODIFIED ASPHALT BINDERS, Rubber chemistry and technology, 70(2), 1997, pp. 256-263
Styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) was used to modify asphalt binders. The
rheological and thermo-mechanical properties of tile binders were inv
estigated using rotational viscometry, dynamic shear rheometry, and th
ermal mechanical analysis. The optimum SBR content and mixing procedur
e mere determined based on the rheological properties of the asphalt/S
BR blends. The addition of 3-5% (w/w) SBR resulted in enhanced high te
mperature performance of the binders. The SBR. progresses from a dispe
rsed polymer to local networks to a global network with increasing SBR
content. This phenomenon is exhibited in rheological properties such
as complex modulus and melt viscosity. It is also verified visually by
using a Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope. Because of tills network
formation, the binders showed a large increase in the complex modulus
which indicates resistance to rutting.