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Modification of asphalt binder by the blend of chemically grafted thermoplastics and SBS: Influence of blend composition, chemical grafting, sulphur content, and MFI value

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Abstract

Thermoplastic elastomers, such as styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), significantly enhance the properties of asphalt binders. This study first highlights the drawbacks of binder modification using chemically grafted polyethylene (g-PE) and then demonstrates the process by which g-PE can be used in combination with SBS. The important role of chemical grafting, sulphur content, and melt flow index (MFI) value in obtaining practically usable ‘g-PE/SBS’ modified binders have been illustrated. The results show that ungrafted and g-PE produces modified binders with highly inferior properties, and the polymers phase separate from the binder within few hours of preparation. % Elastic recovery of the ungrafted and g-PE modified binders was < 30%, and the softening point was 10 to 25 °C lower than SBS modified binders. Modification using the ‘50/50’ g-PE/SBS blend also resulted in inferior modified binders. On the other hand, the ‘25/75’ g-PE/SBS blend resulted in modified binders with properties similar to SBS modified binders. Chemical grafting, sulphur content of 0.21 wt.%, and melt flow index value > 2 are the essential factors that resulted in acceptable ‘25/75’ g-PE/SBS modified binders. Cost analysis shows that the use of g-PE can reduce the overall cost of asphalt pavement. The strategy illustrated in this study can be adopted for low-cost polymers and the effective utilization of waste plastics.

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Abbreviations

TP:

Thermoplastic

PE:

Polyethylene

SBS:

Styrene–butadiene–styrene

MA-PE1 :

Maleic anhydride functionalized polyethylene (MFI value of 0.5)

MA-PE2 :

Maleic anhydride functionalized polyethylene (MFI value of 2)

GM-PE1 :

Glycidyl methacrylate functionalized polyethylene (MFI value of 0.8)

GM-PE2 :

Glycidyl methacrylate functionalized polyethylene (MFI value of 3.5)

MFI:

Melt flow index

SP:

Softening point

∆SP:

Difference in the softening point between top and bottom section of the tube

PMB:

Polymer-modified binder

MB:

Modified binder

TP-MB:

Thermoplastic modified binder

SBS-MB:

SBS modified binder

0.14S:

0.14 wt.% sulphur

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Acknowledgements

This work is supported by a research grant from SERB, India (ECR/2016/001427).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer and Process Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India

    Akanksha Pandey, Alok Sharma & Sham S. Ravindranath

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  1. Akanksha Pandey
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Contributions

The authors confirm contribution to the paper as follows: Concept and study were contributed by Akanksha Pandey and Sham S. Ravindrnath; Sample collection and testing were contributed by Akanksha Pandey and Alok Sharma; Analysis and interpretation of results were contributed by Akanksha Pandey and Sham S. Ravindrnath; Draft manuscript preparationwas contributed by Akanksha Pandey and Sham S. Ravindrnath.

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Correspondence to Sham S. Ravindranath.

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Appendices

Appendix

FT-IR analysis

(Peak at 1767 cm−1 is noticed for carbonyl group in g-PE compare to ungrafted PE. Along with that, GMA g-PE exhibited peak at 845 cm−1 for epoxy group also.) The results of the other two g-PE were similar and hence not presented to avoid redundancy (See Fig. 13).

Fig. 13
figure 13

FT-IR analysis of ungrafted and g-PE

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TGA analysis

(MA-PE exhibited higher thermal stability compared to PE and GM-PE polymer. The divergence in thermal stability might be due to the type of functional group present in the polymer.) (See Fig. 14).

Fig. 14
figure 14

TGA analysis of ungrafted and g-PE

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XRD analysis

(XRD spectrum depicts the reduction in crystallinity due to the presence of grafting in the backbone chain compare to the ungrafted PE. The stated observation is made because of the decrease in intensity and broadening of the peak.). (See Fig. 15).

Fig. 15
figure 15

XRD analysis of ungrafted and g-PE

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Pandey, A., Sharma, A. & Ravindranath, S.S. Modification of asphalt binder by the blend of chemically grafted thermoplastics and SBS: Influence of blend composition, chemical grafting, sulphur content, and MFI value. Polym. Bull. 79, 7753–7774 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-021-03868-7

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