MICROSTRUCTURE OF POLYMER MODIFIED BINDERS IN BITUMINOUS MIXTURES

Examination of the structure of the polymer modified binder in a bituminous mixture has been performed together with infrared analysis and creep test to evaluate the performance of a polymer modified binder course. The structure of the polymer modified binder has been determined by examination of cut and ground bituminous specimens prepared as thin sections. The surface of these thin sections was illuminated with incident UV-light whereby the polymer phase is visible. Thin sections and estimation of the polymer content by infrared analysis showed that the polymer phase was very inhomogeneously distributed in the asphalt binder course. The binder phase in the binder course varied from a bitumen phase with nearly no polymer phase to a continuous bitumen phase with small areas of polymer phase. The dynamic creep test indicated that the binder course have no superior rut resistance compared to other Danish asphalt courses. For the covering abstract see ITRD E107185.