Impacts of multiple-polymer components on high temperature performance characteristics of airfield modified binders

- PE and ARA were typically added in a dry process in asphalt plant to produce the mixtures.
- Impacts of multiple-polymer components on high temperature performance are effective.
- ARA only increases complex modulus while PE had the influences on rutting factor and phase angle.
- ARA has no significant effects on aging resistance, but PE has better resistance to aging.
- MSCR test results showed that the binders with ARA and PE have more resistant to rutting.

Polymer modified asphalt binders have been commonly used to improve the resistance of the airfield pavements to distresses, especially wheel rutting. The objective of this study was to investigate the rheological and chemical properties of the modified binders containing anti-rutting agent (ARA), polyethylene (PE) and styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer (SBS) before and after a short-term aging procedure. Rotational viscosity, penetration degree, softening point as well as performance grade, multi-stress creep recovery (MSCR), frequency and amplitude sweep were performed to determine the effects of ARA and PE on rut depths at high temperatures. In addition, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was conducted to determine the chemical properties of various polymerized binders. The test results showed that, as expected, the addition of PE and ARA polymer increased the rotational viscosity, softening point and rutting factor values and reduced the penetration degree. However, ARA could only increase complex modulus while PE had the influences on both the complex modulus and phase angle of the modified binders. In addition, the rising tendency of phase angle during frequency sweep test was totally different in terms of the binders with or without PE. Furthermore, the FTIR test results showed that the ARA has no significant effects on aging resistance, while the modified binders with PE have better resistance to aging.