Ageing properties of elastomer modified binders

LCPC and Total launched in the early 2000s a joint laboratory study to address the issue of the evolution of the chemical and physical properties of polymer-modified bitumens (PmBs) upon ageing. Although this study involved a wide variety of polymer modifiers, this particular paper is dedicated to elastomer modified systems only. Composition parameters were examined, such as the polymer structure and content, and origin of the bitumen. The influence of an eventual chemical cross-linking was also studied. Results obtained via a number of characterization methods both physical-chemical, such as FTIR microscopy, and rheological such as dynamic shear and bending beam rheometers, performed both before and after short (RTFOT) and long (PAV) term ageing are described. Linking the rheological and chemical results enabled conclusions and directions on how to improve the ageing resistance of elastomer modified bitumens to be developed. For the covering abstract see ITRD E157233