The Elasticity of Rubber-Bitumen Binders for Use in Roads

Abstract The authors have first described test methods used, on the one part, to determine, in a simple way, the elastic recovery of binders after deformation, and on the other, to characterize accurately the state of degradation of the rubber within the bitumen by assessing the molecular weight of the dispersed polymer. Analysis and interpretation of results have stressed: (a) the effect of the molecular weight of crude natural rubber on the elastic recovery of bitumen-rubber blends; (b) the effect of the way in which bitumen-crude natural rubber blends are prepared on their elastic properties and (c) the effect of the nature of synthetic elastomers on the elasticity of bitumen blends.