Study of Blending Mechanism of Bio-Binder and Petroleum Asphalt

Abstract

In order to explore the blending mechanism of bio-binder and petroleum asphalt, this paper used high shear equipment to mix them, with varying conditions of temperature (130 ~ 145°C, 145 ~ 160°C, 160 ~ 175°C, 175 ~ 190°C), speed (500r, 1000r, 2000r, 3000r) and mixing time (15min, 30min, 45min, 60min). Low speed agitation was later applied to fully develop the mixture, until the bubbles disappeared and the final products were formed. Needle penetration and ductility tests were used to assess the variation pattern with the different conditions. The findings are: (1) higher blending temperature caused more severe aging, showing declining needle penetration and ductility values; (2) with longer blending time, the mixture became more homogeneous; however, too long mixing also meant continuous heating, giving rise to certain degree of aging. (3) low blending speed was not sufficient to achieve a totally uniform mixture while higher speed showed better results.