Non-linear behaviour of asphalts in steady and transient shear flow

Steady-state and transient shear stress and normal stress data were obtained for four asphalts with a modified Weissenberg Rheogoniometer. Interest was specially related to non-linear behaviour at high shear-rates. The time-temperature superposition principle was found to hold in non-linear behaviour. Moreover, steady-state and transient data could be plotted as master curves irrespective of the nature of the asphalts. In particular, the master curve of steady-state viscosity could be extended to results published in the literature. In the nonlinear region the shear stress relaxation after cessation of a steady shear rate becomes a function of t only and is related to the primary normal-stress coefficient, as predicted by the Yamamoto equation. In the shear stress growth experiment an overshoot is obtained at a constant strain close to 1.5, independent of the rate of strain.     

Rheological characterization of asphalt in a temperature-gradient combinatorial squeeze-flow setup

A new technique for parallel rheological characterization of asphalt in a combinatorial squeeze-flow array is described. The basis of the technique is a device that is capable of subjecting multiple samples simultaneously to constant volume (Type B) squeeze flow with application of a temperature gradient. The time-dependent sample dimensions, which are calculated from digital images taken through the transparent top plate, are used to derive the flow curves. The results obtained using the combinatorial setup compared favorably with those obtained using conventional parallel-plate torsional flow in a commercial rheometer. With the existing setup, the accessible shear rate range is limited to about one decade at a single temperature.

Improving the aging resistance of styrene-butadiene-styrene tri-block copolymer modified asphalt by addition of antioxidants

The aging properties of base asphalt and styrene-butadiene-styrene tri-block copolymer (SBS) modified asphalts (PMA) are evaluated using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. An aging cell fitted to the FTIR microscope was used to continually and directly study the oxidation of the PMA. In particular, Attenuated Total Reflectance, ATR, with a zinc selenide prism was used to quantify the changes in the spectra of the PMA before and after thin film oven test (TFOT). The effect of a small amount (1 wt%) of some modifiers, zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP), zinc dibutyl dithiocarbamate (ZDBC) or naphthenoid oil, on the chemical and physical properties of the PMA was studied. The modification extent of the modifiers increases in the order: oil, ZDBC, ZDDP. With the aging of the PMA, carbonyl groups formed and the intensity of the absorption peak at 965 cm⁻¹ (the characteristic peak of SBS) decreased. Antioxidants, ZDDP or ZDBC modified PMA are resistant to the formation of carbonyl to some extent, indicating the improvement of aging resistance of the PMA by the addition of the antioxidants. ZDDP and ZDBC as antioxidants can retard the oxidation of the PMA through the inhibition of peroxides and radical scavenging. Furthermore, ZDDP in a liquid state at room temperature acts as plasticiser, giving rise to a good aging resistance of PMA.     

Pavement temperature influence on close proximity tire/road noise

The aim of this work is to analyze the influence of the surface temperature on the acoustical behaviour of a semidense asphalt pavement located in an urban area. The sound levels emitted by the interaction between a reference tire and the asphalt pavement at different surface temperatures were measured with the trailer Tiresonic Mk4 LA²IC-UCLM rolling at a speed of 50 km/h. The analysis of the results shows that increasing pavement temperature leads to a reduction in the close proximity sound levels assessed at a rate of 0.06 dB(A)/°C. Moreover, spectral analysis confirms that both the mechanisms associated with vibration and impacts and those related to the friction and adhesion between tire and pavement in the contact patch could be affected by the variation of the surface temperature.     

掺C60/C70和沥青薄膜的光谱特性

本文研究了醇酸清漆本征膜的紫外———可见吸收光谱特性、沥青的红外光谱和紫外———可见吸收光谱特性、C6 0 /C70 掺入醇酸清漆后所得薄膜的紫外———可见吸收光谱特性、沥青掺入醇酸清漆后所得薄膜的紫外———可见吸收光谱特性、C6 0 /C70 和沥青掺入醇酸清漆后所得薄膜的紫外———可见吸收光谱特性。实验证明 ,醇酸清漆对C6 0 /C70 具有很强的漂白作用 ,即醇酸清使C6 0 /C70 原紫外———可见吸收光谱的吸收峰消失 ,吸收曲线紫移 ,而对沥青吸收光谱则无影响。将C6 0 /C70 和沥青同时掺入醇酸清漆中 ,聚合后薄膜的吸光度在350～ 760nm波段随波长的增加而呈非线性下降 ,同时薄膜的强度也有所提高。     

Characterization of the non-linear response of asphalt mixtures using a torsional rheometer

There is sparse documentation of the large normal stresses that develop in asphalt mixtures subjected to shear, a typical characteristic of non-linear materials. In this study, we continue our initial investigations of using a torsional rheometer for measuring the normal stresses developed in asphalt mixtures when subjected to torsion. Samples of sand-asphalt mixture are subjected to rotation rates as low as one revolution in ninety minutes. This study provides further clear evidence of significant development of normal stresses due to shearing and emphasizes the need for the development of models that can describe such a phenomenon.     

Combined modification of asphalt with polyethylene packaging waste and organophilic montmorillonite

Organophilic montmorillonite (OMMT) was prepared via ion exchange of Ca-montmorillonite (Ca-MMT) using dioctadecyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (DDAC). The OMMT and polyethylene packaging waste (WPE) were used as a combined modifier for asphalt, and the microstructure and performance of the modified asphalt were studied. Results show that the organophilic modification with DDAC results in an obvious increase of interlayer spacing of Ca-MMT, and the OMMT nano-lamellas can be completely exfoliated during the preparation of modified asphalt. The WPE, dispersed in asphalt, exhibits relatively small particles with homogeneous distribution, indicating that the OMMT addition is beneficial for the dispersion of WPE in asphalt. Compared with ordinary polymer modified asphalt, the penetration, softening point and ductility of the modified asphalt are all markedly improved. The modified asphalt obtained possesses excellent high-temperature stability, low-temperature anti-cracking performance and deformation resistance.     

PLS方法辅助TLC/FID技术测定石油沥青的族组成

测定了不同来源的渣油、不同改性工艺沥青的薄层色谱图，提取了谱图特征变量，以偏最小二乘方法为数学工具，通过经典柱色谱法取得基础数据，建立渣油沥青的薄层色谱(TLC)-族组成模型。采用该模型预测待测样品的族组成，并与经典柱色谱法的测定结果相比，饱和烃质量分数、芳烃质量分数和胶质质量分数的相关系数分别为0．9765，0．9901和0．9937。测定结果与经典柱色谱法的测定结果相一致。     

Surface microstructure of bitumen characterized by atomic force microscopy

Bitumen, also called asphalt binder, plays important roles in many industrial applications. It is used as the primary binding agent in asphalt concrete, as a key component in damping systems such as rubber, and as an indispensable additive in paint and ink. Consisting of a large number of hydrocarbons of different sizes and polarities, together with heteroatoms and traces of metals, bitumen displays rich surface microstructures that affect its rheological properties. This paper reviews the current understanding of bitumen's surface microstructures characterized by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). Microstructures of bitumen develop to different forms depending on crude oil source, thermal history, and sample preparation method. While some bitumens display surface microstructures with fine domains, flake-like domains, and dendrite structuring, ‘bee-structures’ with wavy patterns several micrometers in diameter and tens of nanometers in height are commonly seen in other binders. Controversy exists regarding the chemical origin of the ‘bee-structures’, which has been related to the asphaltene fraction, the metal content, or the crystallizing waxes in bitumen. The rich chemistry of bitumen can result in complicated intermolecular associations such as coprecipitation of wax and metalloporphyrins in asphaltenes. Therefore, it is the molecular interactions among the different chemical components in bitumen, rather than a single chemical fraction, that are responsible for the evolution of bitumen's diverse microstructures, including the ‘bee-structures’. Mechanisms such as curvature elasticity and surface wrinkling that explain the rippled structures observed in polymer crystals might be responsible for the formation of ‘bee-structures’ in bitumen. Despite the progress made on morphological characterization of bitumen using AFM, the fundamental question whether the microstructures observed on bitumen surfaces represent its bulk structure remains to be addressed. In addition, critical technical challenges associated with AFM characterization of bitumen surface structures are discussed, with possible solutions recommended. For future work, combining AFM with other chemical analysis tools that can generate comparable high resolution to AFM would provide an avenue to linking bitumen's chemistry to its microscopic morphological and mechanical properties and consequently benefit the efforts of developing structure-related models for bituminous materials across the different length scales.     

Determination of aromatic hydrocarbons in asphalt release agents using headspace solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The possibility of quantitative analysis of aromatic hydrocarbons in oil-based asphalt release agents was investigated using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The target analytes studied were benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-, m-, and o-xylene (BTEX) and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. Experimental parameters influencing HS-SPME efficiency were studied (equilibration time between sample and headspace and between headspace and SPME fiber, sample amount and sample matrice effects). A HS-SPME method using hexadecane as a surrogate matrice was developed. The detection limit was estimated as 0.03-0.08 ppm (w/w) for the target analytes investigated. Good linearity was observed (R2 > 0.999) for all calibration curves at high, medium and low concentration level. The repeatability of the method (RSD, relative standard deviation) was found to be less than 10% (generally less than 5%) in triplicate samples and approximately 2% at eight consecutive tests on one and the same sample. The accuracy of the method given by recovery of spiked samples was between 85 and 106% (generally between 95 and 105%). The HS-SPME method developed was applied to four commercially available asphalt release agents. External calibration and standard addition approaches were investigated regarding accuracy. The results showed that standard addition generates higher accuracy than external calibration. The contents of target aromatic hydrocarbons in the asphalt release agents studied varied greatly from approximately 0.1-700 ppm. The method described looks promising, and could be a valuable tool for determination of aromatic hydrocarbons in different types of organic matrices.