Fast solidification kinetics of parts of bituminous binders

Abstract

A quantification of the kinetics of formation of the micro-phases in bitumen during cooling as it occurs in applications, e.g. a road pavement will enable a better prediction of the performance of asphalt in models and an understanding of functional properties and their development in time. This microphase formation is part of the process of physical ageing (hardening) and starts almost immediately after or instantaneously during cooling. The earlier proposed process of liquid liquid demixing within bitumen upon cooling is followed by a, at the beginning homogeneously nucleated and three-dimensional crystallization, which changes in the course of crystallization to 2-dimensional crystal growth and mixed nucleation, both homogeneous and heterogeneous.