A review on low temperature performances of rubberized asphalt materials

The benefits of applying the crumb rubber modified binders have been widely recognized. The improvements on low temperature properties of asphalt binders have been proven by adding crumb rubber. The article reviews the crack resistance mechanism of crumb rubber modified asphalt. Rubber particles can block the generation of cracks, leading to the improvement of low-temperature properties of the binder. The review finds that the low temperature properties of crumb rubber modified binder (CRMB) are govern by the factors such as asphalt properties, crumb rubber properties, mixing temperature, mixing time, mixing type and admixture. These factors have effects on the interaction between crumb rubber and binder that affect the low temperature performance of CRMB. The bending beam rheometer (BBR) test is the most frequently used method to evaluate the low-temperature properties of CRMB. Meanwhile, the low temperature properties of crumb rubber modified asphalt mixtures are commendably evaluated by the indirect tensile test (IDT), the semi-circular bending (SCB) test and the asphalt concrete cracking device (ACCD). Furthermore, the low temperature anti-cracking properties of CRMB can be improved by the chemical modification and physical treatment methods.