The effect of styrene–butadiene–rubber/montmorillonite modification on the characteristics and properties of asphalt

In order to study the effect of styrene–butadiene–rubber/montmorillonite (SBR/MMT) modification on the characteristics and properties of asphalt, modified asphalts were prepared by incorporating MMT into SBR and mixing this into asphalt. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results show that SBR/MMT composites may form an intercalated structure and SBR/MMT modified asphalts may form an exfoliated structure. The morphologies of the samples have been characterized by fluorescent microscopy. The results indicate that SBR/MMT modified asphalts formed an ideal fine network structure. The addition of SBR/MMT to asphalt increased both the softening point and viscosity and decreased the penetration of the modified asphalts at high temperatures. High-temperature storage stability tests indicated that the modified asphalts are very stable in some SRB/MMT, SBR/MMT content range. Especially, the modified asphalts exhibited higher complex modulus (G∗) and lower damping factor (tan δ). It implies that SBR/MMT displays improved viscoelastic properties, resulting in enhancing its resistance to rutting at high temperature.