Liquid Polymer and its Effect on Development of Polymer Modified Binder for Asphalt Road

Abstract

The limitation lies in the availability of materials as well as the blending of polymers/rubbers/latex with asphalt at high temperature for a long duration. This results in a high cost of PMBs. Another limitation is the phase separation of the polymer from Asphalt.PMB developed with indigenously available liquid copolymer – Vinyl Acrylic Copolymer is easy to blend with asphalt at relatively low temperature and for a short blending time. The road development programs envisaged for the country involving a large amount of money, manpower, and materials will concern not only in the construction of new roads but also the improvements of existing roads and their durability for design life. This poster depicts the use of a new modifier (liquid form) for the development of cost-effective and high performance modified binder and its use for construction of asphalt roads. Vinyl Acrylic Co-Polymer is a low-cost polymer and is inferior quality to achieve the goal of improving bitumen properties; however, a copolymer of Vinyl Acetate i.e. liquid polymer1(LP1) should create a secondary network or new balance system within binders by molecular interactions or by reacting chemically with the bitumen. Polymer modified asphalt compositions were characterized as per IRC: SP: 53-2010 to assess the effect of modification on the properties of VG-30 that exhibit improved performance grade (PG) specifications for high-temperature properties. LP-1 is used for the preparation of mixes with selected aggregate grading as given in the IRC Code. Job mix was prepared using a modified binder containing 0.5% of LP-1 in VG-30. LP-1 with Viscosity Grade (VG-30) to study the behaviour modified bituminous mix. The role of LP-1 in the mix studied for various engineering properties e.g. ITS, Retained Stability, Marshall stability, flow value, unit weight, air voids are used to determine Optimum Binder Content(OBC) for VG30 and polymer-modified VG-30. The evaluation study indicated that the binder properties were improved several folds, Consequently, the mechanical properties bituminous mixes were also found improved w.r.to Retained Stability and Indirect Tensile Strength. The liquid polymer has been used for soil stabilization and Modification of VG-10 binder. Bituminous concrete (BC) mixes developed with liquid polymer modified binders satisfied the requirement of IRC SP-53, 2010. The performance of modified mixes needs to be improved further to satisfy the requirements of high-performance binders and mixes concerning rutting, thermal cracking, and fatigue. The liquid polymer has been used for soil stabilization and Modification of VG-10 binder. Bituminous concrete (BC) mixes developed with liquid polymer modified binders satisfied the requirement of IRC SP-53, 2010. The performance of modified mixes needs to be improved further to satisfy the requirements of high-performance binders and mixes concerning rutting, thermal cracking, and fatigue.

Advantages of liquid polymer with bitumen binder in mix design are ease of mixing with bitumen at relatively low temperature i.e. <100degree centigrade. Improved compatibility of polymer with bitumen as there is no phase separation low cost as compared to other solid polymers. 0.5% optimum polymer content is sufficient to modify Bitumen. Job mix formula indicated that the optimum binder content of liquid polymer modified bitumen is 0.5% lesser than optimum binder content with VG grade bitumen. To develop cost-effective high-performance bituminous mixes using admixture of liquid polymer and fly ash for construction and maintenance of bituminous roads. To improve the storage stability of modified binders. To study Rheology, rutting, Thermal Cracking, Aging performance of modified binders vis-a-vis conventional base bitumen.