Rheological behavior of vegetable oil-modified asphaltite binders and mixes

Abstract

This paper focuses on the development of a viscoelastic bituminous binder by blending hard natural bitumen (asphaltite), waste vegetable oil and a small amount of hard petroleum bitumen. The optimization of the composition of this mixture allows obtaining binder with similar needle penetration as classical paving grade bitumen. The obtained product is expected to be an alternative to the consumption of the classical petroleum bitumen and a new way to recycle waste vegetable oils. Two waste vegetable oils (rapeseed and sunflower) have been used for this issue. The appropriate composition of the blends has been firstly determined based on the conventional penetration and softening point tests. The volatility of the constituents of the binders has been measured thanks to a thermo-gravimetric analyses (TGA). The linear viscoelastic properties of the binders and the corresponding asphalt concretes have been also measured. In addition, theirs performances regarding the resistance to the permanent deformation and the water sensitivity have been evaluated. It has been found that the produced binders and the corresponding mixes have lower stiffness modulus than the classical 35/50 paving grade bitumen. The rutting depths, the stripping resistances as well as the stiffness modulus obtained with the new binders comply with the actual standard 13108-1, except the stiffness modulus obtained with the waste rapeseed oil.

Polysaccharides-Reinforced Bitumens: Specificities and Universality of Rheological Behavior

“…The temperature of 50 • C was chosen as representative of the normal temperature under usage conditions. On the other hand, the idea of considering the rigidity at temperatures higher than room temperature is sometimes adopted in the literature so the use of G at 50 • C in the present work allows comparison with those papers [18]. The value of G @50 • C is expected to change in the presence of additives as a consequence of the additive (reinforcing) effect on the bitumen microstructure.…”

“…flexible) and long molecule characterized by hydrophilic functional groups which can bridge the different polar stacks/aggregates of asphaltenes by formation of a network connecting them and reinforncing the overall structure. The idea is somehow not new: Król et al [17] and Somé et al [18], used vegetable oils and the corresponding methyl esters for obtaining environment-friendly bitumen fluxes by oxypolymerization-based polymerization, which crosslinks the structural units. This allowed for the viscosity increase of the stock, and contributed to its hardening and drying.…”

A Review on Bitumen Rejuvenation: Mechanisms, Materials, Methods and Perspectives

“…In this sense, Król et al [49], and Somé et al [50] show that the addition of some particular bio-additives has a large potential application as reversible fluxing agents in bitumen industry, RAP technology and Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA). They used vegetable oil produced using various raw materials (Rapeseed oils, Soybean oil, Sunflower oil, Linseed oil, etc.)…”

“…In fact, while fluxing is desired during mixture production, placement and compaction, it is no longer appreciated once the road is open to traffic. Considering the examples of Król et al [49], and Somé et al [50], the suitability criterion for vegetable oils and the corresponding methyl esters for obtaining environment-friendly bitumen fluxes is their reactivity to the oxypolymerization reaction, which raises the viscosity of the stock, thus, contributing to its hardening and drying. The efficiency of polymerization depends on the number of double bonds and their position in the aliphatic chain of fatty acid.…”

Towards Understanding the Polymerization Process in Bitumen Bio-Fluxes

“…This is a convenient solution due to the good mixability of vegetable oils with bitumen, a homogeneous product with reduced stiffness is obtained. Especially in the works [ 4 , 13 , 16 , 17 ] there are indications of restrictions in too high a content of these fluxes due to the potential problem of pavement properties destruction in a form of a permanent deformation. The problem of too high liquefaction of the bitumen binder can be reduced by polymerizing oils in the bitumen binder.…”