Improving anti-aging performance of terminal blend rubberized bitumen by using graft activated crumb rubber

Abstract The appearance of terminal blend rubberized bitumen (TB) has improved a series of defects of traditional rubber bitumen, such as high viscosity, poor storage stability. Therefore, its wide application prospect is self-evident. However, different degrees of thermal-oxidative aging problem still exist in the process from production to use of TB, which seriously affects the service life of pavement. To improve the anti-aging performance of TB, grafting activated crumb rubber (GACR) was obtained by using acrylamide, and then compounded with TB. Firstly, TB was prepared in the self-developed nitrogen protection device. Secondly, GACR modified bitumen (GACR-MB), TB/CR composite modified bitumen (TB/CR) and TB/GACR composite modified bitumen (TB/GACR) were developed in the atmospheric environment. Finally, the performance of four kinds of crumb rubber modified bitumens before and after aging was compared and analyzed by testing high and low temperature rheological properties. The results show that GACR slowed down the formation rate and aggregation degree of asphaltenes and other macromolecular substances, and TB/GACR showed excellent aging resistance.