STUDY OF ASPHALT-AGGREGATE INTERACTIONS AND ASPHALT MOLECULAR INTERACTIONS BY MICROCALORIMETRIC METHODS: POSTULATED INTERACTION MECHANISM

The interaction energies between several asphalts and aggregates were obtained by measuring the energy released when -35 + 48 mesh aggregate particles were immersed into molten asphalt. The data show effects of temperature on asphalt-aggregate interactions, of doping the asphalt with an antistripping agent, of surface treatment of the aggregate, and of the presence of atmospheric oxygen. The difference in intermolecular energy of an asphalt measured with a microcalorimeter was attributed to the asphalt being more associated at 150C than at 200C. The report concludes with a proposed mechanism for asphalt-aggregate interactions and for asphalt intermolecular interactions.