Effect of waste tire rubber powder grade on performance of rubber asphalts

Abstract

To determine the influence of rubber powder grade on performance of rubber asphalt, 8 rubber powder grade were selected for quantitative evaluation. Conventional performance, rheological performance, and bending creep stiffness tests were conducted based on different rubber powder grade to evaluate their effects on the conventional performance and high- and low-temperature performance of rubber asphalt. The microscopic properties of rubber asphalt with different rubber powder grade were analyzed through thermogravimetric analysis, fluorescence microscopy and solubility test. The results indicated that as the rubber powder grade became fi-ner, the penetration of the rubber asphalt increased, while the softening point and the viscosity decreased, and the ductility and storage stability improved. Coarser grade had a better effect on improving the high-temperature performance of the rubber asphalt, while finer grade had a better effect on improving low-temperature performance. There was a good correlation between the rubber powder grade parameters and the performance of rubber asphalt. The rubber asphalt with coarser grade exhibited better high-temperature stability, while the rubber asphalt with finer grade showed better compatibility and greater degradation in asphalt, thereby improving the storage stability of the rubber asphalt.

Keywords

• rubber asphalt，rubber powder grade，grading parameter， asphalt property，