Formulation of new synthetic binders: Thermo-mechanical properties of recycled polymer/oil blends

Synthetic binders are special paving materials manufactured by mixing polymers, resins and oils. These materials may have improved mechanical properties as compared to the traditional modified bitumen. This work is part of a comprehensive study on the design of synthetic binders with selected mechanical properties. In this sense, upgraded mechanical properties of the final synthetic binder can be attained by understanding and correlating the mechanical properties of its individual constituents (i.e. polymer) in the dispersing medium (i.e. oil) as a function of composition and temperature. With this aim, this work deals with the thermo-mechanical properties of recycled polymer/oil blends over a wide range of temperature and composition. Recycled polymer/oil blends are thermo-rheologically complex materials. They show a predominantly gel-like behaviour at low and intermediates temperatures, a range in which the oil seems to act as a lubricant between the polymeric chains. Blend complex viscosities can be predicted using Lecyar's mixing rule.