Effect of reactive rejuvenating system on physical properties and rheological characteristics of aged SBS modified bitumen

The excellent comprehensive performance of SBS modified bitumen (SMB), during a long-term thermo- and photo-oxidative exposure, will fail to satisfy the pavement requirement. In this paper, the synergistic effect of 4,4′-diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI) and 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (BUDGE) on the molecular weight of aged SBS was firstly studied, through a simulation, to confirm whether a new polymer structure can be obtained. Then, the reactive rejuvenating system containing MDI, BUDGE and bituminous composition returning agent (MDI-BUDGEs) was applied in the rejuvenation of aged SMB. The results show that the rebuilt molecular structure of aged SBS can be obtained with the combination of MDI and BUDGE. Meanwhile, MDI-BUDGEs can improve the low-temperature ductility and inhibit the sharp fall of the softening point of aged SMB, while decrease the viscosity-temperature response at 120-165 °C. Also, MDI-BUDGEs can contribute for increasing the viscous component, improving the fatigue resistance and remaining the high-temperature performance grade of aged SMB, and moreover, decrease the limited elastic modulus and the elastic-plasticity transition rate to avoid the occurrence of the brittle failure within a small strain range.