Ageing processes invesitigation of asphalt binders modified with polymer composites

MINIATURA 5

Funding Organization: National Science Centre

Project title: Ageing processes invesitigation of asphalt binders modified with polymer composites

Agreement number: DEC-2021/05/X/ST8/00161

Project implementation period: 01.10.2021 - 30.09.2022

Principal Investigator: dr Szymon Malinowski

Project value: 46 906,00 PLN

Funds granted for Lublin University of Technology: 46 906,00 PLN

Abstract: The project is part of the civil engineering and transport scientific discipline. The project covers topics related to the application of novel polymer composites in road materials engineering in the aspect of ageing of asphalt binders. The ageing processes of asphalt binders are one of the main reasons for the loss of their original physico-chemical properties, which leads to the deterioration of road surfaces. In recent years there has been a trend in the development of modern modifiers of asphalt binders that inhibit the ageing processes. Research reported in the literature indicates that the presence of certain functional groups in the chemical structure of organic compounds is responsible for their ageing-inhibiting properties. On the other hand, the growing ecological awareness of both investors and road users makes it necessary to use ecological modifiers in road construction. Therefore, in this project innovative polymer composites used in the modification of asphalt binders will be obtained on the basis of chitosan. It is a polymer of biological origin belonging to the group of polysaccharides, formed by partial deacetylation of chitin. The definite advantages of its use are its non-toxicity, biocompatibility and degradability. To introduce appropriate functional groups into the chemical structure of chitosan, graft polymerisation reactions will be used, which will result in attaching three different ligands to the chitosan structure, i.e. polyaniline, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid or methacrylamide. The resulting materials will be characterised in terms of structure and chemical composition by FTIR, XPS and CHN. Then, they will be applied to the modification of 50/70 road asphalt. Within the framework of the research activity, studies on the physicochemical properties of the modified asphalt binders, i.e. penetration, softening point and dynamic viscosity, are planned. An important aspect of the planned research is also the analysis of changes in the physicochemical properties of the modified asphalt binders under the influence of ageing processes. These changes will be quantitatively characterised by both rheological ageing indexes, i.e. changes in penetration, viscosity and softening temperature, as well as chemical ageing indexes, i.e. increase in the number of carboxyl and sulphoxyl groups.The result of the project will be the preparation and characterisation of polymer composites with potential ageing inhibition properties for asphalt binders. The topics of the project are within the discipline of civil engineering and transport.