Effectiveness of Asphalt Rejuvenator

This paper presents an evaluation of maltene rejuvenator effectiveness. The rejuvenator was applied on the U.S.-40 highway in Henry County, IN, and its performance was monitored and evaluated using four different evaluation methods: (1) friction, (2) permeability test, (3) dynamic shear rheometer, and (4) contact-angle test. The results demonstrate that the rejuvenator has no significant effects on pavement permeability. However, the rejuvenator reduced the moduli (i.e., dynamic shear modulus, viscous modulus, and elastic modulus), increased the phase angle, and increased the water drop contact angle of the asphalt binder. The influence depth of the rejuvenator was approximately 12.5 mm from the surface for the test section. The influence life of the rejuvenator lasted longer than 391 days. Even though all average friction numbers (FNs) throughout the measurement period were above the INDOT minimum requirement (i.e., >20 FN), this depended to a large extent on the surface friction of the existing pavement before applying the rejuvenator. There was a significant FN reduction of a maximum of 47 % within a day after the application of the rejuvenator. Based on the friction performance, a friction test on existing pavements should be required prior to application of the rejuvenator. A pavement with a low FN should not receive the rejuvenator application.