EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

“Effect of Separation of Modified Binders”.

Varun V. J*, Rajkumar S.*,

*Under Graduate Students of Civil Engineering, Dayananda Sagar College of
Engineering, S.M.Hills, K.S. Layout, Bangalore-560078.
e-mail:[email protected], [email protected]*

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1 GENERAL

India has the world’s second largest road network after USA. Since the
independence, the length of the road network has increased enormously and
also due to the increase in the economical status number of vehicles using the
road network has been increasing day by day, because of this the scope for the
improvement of the binder to perform better has come into picture. This led to the
inventions of the modified binders.

Modified binders are those in which the chemical composition of the

binder has been changed using certain admixtures in order to enhance the
performance of the binder. Using the modified binder has considerably increased
the functional properties of the pavement but has given new problems to deal
with. One of the major problem in this sector is transportation of binders from
refinery to the field where it is used. Here a problem known as separation comes
into picture.

Separation is defined as “During the transportation of the bitumen

from the refinery to the field the settlement of the modifier takes place
which is known as separation”. Because of this separation the performance of
the bitumen has come down considerably and effects of it will be discussed in the
further studies of this report.

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

1.2 STORAGE STABILITY.

Storage stability was measured using AASHTO PP5-93. Here Four

bitumen were taken for the test viz., OPMB-70, WPMB, CCRMB-55, CPMB.
modified asphalt sample was poured into an aluminum tube and held in a vertical
position throughout the aging portion of the test. The top of the tube was sealed
and the sample was placed in a 163°C oven for 24, 48, 72 hours. The tube was
cut into three pieces, with the top and bottom portions placed in different
containers and heated to 163°C to remove the aluminum pieces.
The resulting specimens were subsequently tested for softening point(IS:1205-
1978), elastic recovery(), viscosity( using Brookfield viscometer). A significant
storage stability problem was observed through the high difference in viscosity
exhibited between the top and bottom in such a short time.

1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY.

1. To study the behavior of the bitumen when stored at 163 C for 24, 48,
72, hours respectively.

2. To compare the results based on performance of top, middle, bottom,

layers at 24, 48, 72 hours respectively.

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

2.0 LABORATORY STUDIES.

2.1 MATERIALS USED
For the purpose of study five types modified bitumen were used,
1. OPMB-70.
2. WPMB.
3. C-CRMB-55.
4. CPMB.
Following tests were conducted for above said modified bitumens.

2.2 TESTS CONDUCTED DURING THE STUDY

2.2.1 Preparation of Samples: place the empty tube, with sealed end down
in the rack. Heat the sample carefully until sufficiently fluid to pour, care should
be taken to prevent localized over-heating. Pass the molten sample through a
NO. 50 ( IS 300 micron) sieve. After through stirring, pour 50g into vertically held
tube. Fold the excess tube over two times and crimp and seal.
Place the rack containing sealed tube in 163+- 5 C oven. Allow the tubes
to stand undisturbed in the oven for a period of 24+- 4 hours. At the end of the
period, remove the rack from the oven, and place immediately in the freezer at
-6.7+- 5 C, taking care to keep the tubes in vertical position at all times. Leave
the tubes in the freezer for a minimum period of 4 hours to solidify completely.
Upon removing the tube from the freezer, place it on a flat surface. Cut the
tube into 3 equal length portion
with the spatula and hammer.
Place top, middle and bottom
portions of the tube into separate
beakers. Place the beakers into a
163+- 5 C oven until the bitumen
is sufficiently fluid to remove the
pieces of aluminium tube.

Fig 1: Separation specimen in the oven

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

2.2.2 Rotational Viscosity Test: The rotational viscosity test is conducted

on all five binders using rotational viscometer. The rotational viscometer
determines the asphalt viscosity by measuring the torque necessary to maintain
constant rotational speed of a cylindrical spindle submerged in an asphalt
specimen held at constant temperature, as per ASTM 4402 standard test
method. Unlike capillary viscometer used with the viscosity graded method, the
rotational viscometer can evaluate modified asphalt binders. The viscosity of
asphalt binders can be measured within the range of 0.01 pascal-s (0.1 poise) to
200 pascal-s (2000 poise) with the maximum value of 3 pascal-s at 135 C.

Fig 2: Brookefield Viscometer

Elastic Recovery Test: prepare the test specimen and condition as

prescribed in test method IS 1208. elongate the test specimen at the specified
rate to a deformation 10cm at a rate of 5+-0.25 cm/minute. Immediately cut the
test specimen into two-halves at the midpoint using the scissors. Keep the test
specimen in the water bath in an undisturbed condition for 1 hour at 15+-I C.
After the 1 hour time period, move the elongated half of the test specimen
back into position near the fixed half of the test specimen so the two pieces of
modified bitumen just touch. Record the length of the recombined specimen at
“X”.

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

Fig 3: Elastic Recovery Test

Conventional Test Results
As we all know that bitumen is a viscio-elastic material, the conventional
test does not really measure the visco-elastic nature of the bitumen. The binders
were subjected to conventional tests like penetration, ductility, softening point,
flash and fire point and elastic recovery; the results are given in the table 2.0.
These tests proved to pass all the criteria given by IS specifications.

Test Results of the Binders at various Temperatures

Test Description CCRMB-55 WPMB CPMB 40 OPMB 70
andCriteria

Penetration (mm) at 25 deg c IS: 12 25 38 33 42

Softening Point in deg C IS:1205- 63 61 61 59
1978

Ductility (cm) IS: 1208-1978 >75 40 >75 >75

Elastic Recovery in % (Min 50%) 3.3 1.8 5.3 5
at 15 deg c IRC SP :53-2002

Flash Point in deg C Min 230 deg 250 205 210 218
C IS: 1209-1978

Fire Point in deg C IS: 1209-1978 310 248 260 274

Specific gravity IS: 1202-1978 0.967 0.978 0.982 1.005

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

2.3 Test Results

1. OPMB-70
24 HOURS 48 HOURS 72 HOURS
ELASTIC TOP 50% 46% 38%
RECOVERY MID 37% 42% 48%
IN PER. BOT 50% 46% 41%
TOP 2.380 2.660 1.880
VISCOSITY IN MID 2.330 2.250 2.330
PASCAL-S BOT 2.550 1.780 2.300

2.3.1 ELASTIC RECOVERY V/S TIME

ELASTIC RECOVERY IN PER.

60%

50%
40% TOP
30% MIDDLE

20% BOTTOM

10%

0%
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

2.3.2 VISCOSITY V/S TIME

3
VISCOSITY IN PASCAL-S

2.5

2 TOP
1.5 MIDDLE

1 BOTTOM

0.5

0
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

2. C-CRMB- 55
24 HOURS 48 HOURS 72 HOURS
ELASTIC TOP 60% 24% 38%
RECOVERY MID 23% 26% 48%
IN PER. BOT 24% 30% 41%
TOP 1.350 1.600 3.630
VISCOSITY IN MID 1400 1.580 1.800
PASCAL-S BOT 1.580 1.780 3.500

2.3.3 ELASTIC RECOVERY V/S TIME

ELASTIC RECOVERY IN PER.

70%
60%
50%
TOP
40%
MIDDLE
30%
BOTTOM
20%
10%
0%
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

2.3.4 VISCOSITY V/S TIME

4
VISCOSITY IN PASCAL-S

3.5
3
2.5 TOP
2 MIDDLE
1.5 BOTTOM
1
0.5
0
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

3. WPMB

24 HOURS 48 HOURS 72 HOURS

ELASTIC TOP 16% 21% 24%
RECOVERY MID 15% 24% 27%
IN PER. BOT 17% 29% 24%
TOP .730 1.230 1.630
VISCOSITY IN MID .710 1.350 1.780
PASCAL-S BOT .750 1.280 1.680

2.3.5 ELASTIC RECOVERY V/S TIME

ELASTIC RECOVERY IN PER.

35%
30%
25%
TOP
20%
MIDDLE
15%
BOTTOM
10%
5%
0%
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

2.3.6 VISCOSITY V/S TIME

2
V IS COS ITY IN P AS CAL-S

1.5
TOP
1 MIDDLE
BOTTOM
0.5

0
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

4. CPMB

24 HOURS 48 HOURS 72 HOURS

ELASTIC TOP 6% 19% 23%
RECOVERY MID 12% 21% 26%
IN PER. BOT 16% 24% 22%
TOP 1.290 2.450 1.950
VISCOSITY MID 1.080 1.550 1.450
IN PASCAL-S BOT 1.000 1.230 1.480

2.3.7 ELASTIC RECOVERY V/S TIME

ELASTIC RECOVERY IN PER.

30%

25%
20% TOP
15% MIDDLE

10% BOTTOM

5%

0%
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

2.3.8 VISCOSITY V/S TIME

3
VISCOSITY IN PASCAL-S

2.5
2 TOP
1.5 MIDDLE

1 BOTTOM

0.5

0
24 48 72
TIME IN HOURS

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

3.CONCLUSION

• In case of OPMB-70, the elastic recovery test gave a satisfactory results

for top and bottom portion at 24 hours and failed at 48 and 72 hours, while
the middle portion has failed to give satisfactory results at 24, 48, 72
hours. all portions of the bitumen qualified at the 24, 48, and 72 hours in
which the max. Value is taken as 3 p-s. The top and middle portion of the
bitumen has increased its viscosity values but the bottom portion initially
increased and then decreased considerably.
• In case of C-CRMB-55, the elastic recovery test gave a satisfactory results
for top portion at 24 hours and failed at 48 and 72 hours, while the middle
and bottom portion failed to give a satisfactory results at 24, 48 and 72
hours. The top and bottom portion of the bitumen gave an unsatisfactory
results at 72 hours and gave a satisfactory results at 24 and 48 hours,
while the middle portion gave a satisfactory results at 24, 48 and 72
hours.
• In case of WPMB, the elastic recovery test failed to give a satisfactory
results for all the portion at 24, 48, 72 hours, even though the percentage
of recovery has increased. All the viscosity value has qualified for all the
portions at 24, 48, 72 hours, but the viscosity value has increased
considerably for all the portions.
• In case of CPMB, the elastic recovery test has given very unsatisfactory
results for all the portions at 24, 48, 72 hours, but over a period of time the
percentage of recovery as increased considerably. In case of viscosity test
all portions of the bitumen at 24, 48,72 hours gave a satisfactory results,
but there was considerable variation in the viscosity values of the bitumen.

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

The work reported herein was conducted as a research studies at

Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering, Bangalore. Under the guidance of
B.V. Kiran Kumar, assistant professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, DSCE. The
authors acknowledge the valuble guidance and support extended by our
guide prof. B.V. Kiran Kumar. The authors would also like to acknowledge
M/s Tinna Overseas Ltd., Newdelhi and M/s K.K. Waste Plastic management
Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. M/s Osnar Chemicals Ltd., Mumbai, Novophalt
Chemicals Ltd., Kolkata for providing with the samples.
.

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EFFECT OF SEPARATION OF MODIFIED BINDERS

REFERENCES

1. “Tentative guidelines on use of polymer and rubber modified bitumen

in road construction” Indian roads congress, special publication(SP) –
53 : 2002,
2. Superpave Mix Design Superpave Series No.2 (SP-2), third edition
(2001), Asphalt Institute, USA.
3. Performance Graded Asphalt Binder Specification and Testing
Superpave Series No.1 (SP-1), third edition (2001), Asphalt Institute,
USA.
4. “ Design of Toner Modifications for the Houston,Laredo, Pharr, and
Bryan Demonstration Projects” by Yetkin Yildirim, Thomas W.
Kennedy, and Jorge Prozzi.
5. AASHTO Provisional Standards. AASHTO PP5 – Guide for the
Laboratory Evaluation of Modified Asphalt Systems, American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials,
Washington, D.C., June 1996.

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