Adhesive surface characteristics of bitumen binders investigated by Atomic Force Microscopy

AFM QNM results show that the adhesive forces measured in the region surrounding (peri phase) the periodic topographic features resembling 'bees' (catana phase) and the region in the 'bee' areas are lower than the adhesive force measured in the smooth matrix (para phase). Likewise it was observed that Young's moduli in the region surrounding (peri phase) the 'bees' (catana phase) and in the 'bees' are higher than Young's modulus of the smooth matrix (para phase).