Abstract
Rheological techniques are used to investigate the rejuvenation of aged bitumen. The thermal transition associated with the collapse of the compact structure constituted by asphaltene is determined by Dynamic Mechanical Thermal Analysis. For aged bitumen, this transition shifts to a higher temperature but when rejuvenating agents are added, the transition returns to its original value. The “rutting factor,” G*/sin δ allows to define the maximum temperature the binder can reach without permanent deformation. The employed rejuvenating agents are suitable because permanent deformation is postponed. Viscosity results reveal that aged bitumen needs a high mixing temperature (>200°C) to behave like a fluid material able to wet, adhere, and envelop aggregates. The addition of rejuvenating agents considerably reduces mixing and compaction temperatures. The mixture of 80% aged bitumen—20% recycled motor oil, obtained exclusively from waste materials is an apt binder that can compete satisfactorily with new 60/70 bitumen.
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Acknowledgements
The financial support provided by the Basque Government (project I-CN04SK01), Spanish Government MEC (project PTQ2003-0775), and the University of The Basque Country (project UPV00203.215-14498/2002) is gratefully acknowledged.
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Romera, R., Santamaría, A., Peña, J.J. et al. Rheological aspects of the rejuvenation of aged bitumen. Rheol Acta 45, 474–478 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-005-0078-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00397-005-0078-7