Characterization of Epoxy Modified Asphalt

Abstract

Asphalt pavements serve as the foundation of our transportation system, and their durability and effectiveness heavily rely on the properties of bitumen, which acts as the adhesive agent binding the aggregate materials together. Modified asphalt binders offer improved performance by enhancing the mechanical characteristics and resistance to rutting and fatigue of asphalt pavements. Epoxy resin is a type of synthetic thermosetting polymer that is widely used in various industries and applications. It is created through a chemical reaction between epoxide monomers and a curing agent, typically a hardener. The resulting material is a highly durable and versatile substance with a wide range of properties. This study aims to investigate the impact of epoxy modification on asphalt binder & mixtures properties. The base bitumen (VG 30) was modified by incorporating epoxy (combination of epoxy resin and hardener) at different contents of 1%, 2%, 3%, and 4% by weight of heat binder. The rheological properties of the binders were evaluated through tests such as high-performance grade (PG), MSCR (multiple stress creep and recovery), frequency sweeps, temperature sweeps, amplitude sweeps, SFP (Superpave fatigue parameter), LAS (linear amplitude sweep), and BBR (bending beam rheometer) tests. The mixture properties were tested through Marshall stability, ITS (indirect tensile strength), and TSR (tensile strength ratio) tests. Through comprehensive analysis, the optimal dosage of the additive was determined to be 2-3% by weight, resulting in the most favourable modified asphalt binder and mixture properties. Pavement structural analysis showed that the selected pavement composition had the ability to resist higher traffic based on rutting and fatigue criteria as per IRC: 37- 2018 when epoxy-modified bituminous concrete (BC) mixtures were used in the wearing course, than the mixture with unmodified VG 30 binder.