Investigation of the High-Temperature and Rheological Properties for Asphalt Sealant Modified by SBS and Rubber Crumb

Polymers (Basel). 2022 Jun 23;14(13):2558. doi: 10.3390/polym14132558.

Abstract

Crack sealing is an important measure for pavement maintenance. Hot-poured crack sealant is the most utilized material for crack sealing. However, its poor high-temperature and rheological properties seriously weaken the mechanical properties of repaired pavement. Thus, to overcome the disadvantage of the poor high-temperature and rheological properties of sealant, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and rubber crumb (CR) were utilized for modifying the asphalt-based sealants. Softening point tests, temperature tests, frequency scan tests, and multiple stress creep recovery tests (MSCR) were conducted to evaluate the high-temperature and rheological properties of the modified sealant. Additionally, the influence of SBS and CR on the high-temperature performance of the modified sealant was quantitatively analyzed by the grey relational analysis method. The results reveal that the SBS has a greater enhancement effect on the high-temperature performance of sealant than CR. Increasing the SBS and CR content in the sealant could enhance the sealant's high-temperature performance, stiffness, and elasticity. Compared with asphalt-based sealant and one-component modified asphalt-based sealant, SBS/CR-modified asphalt sealant has greater viscosity and higher temperature deformation resistance. Additionally, SBS can increase the stress level of the sealant, thereby enhancing the resistance of the sealant to permanent deformation.

Keywords: SBS; high-temperature performance; permanent deformation resistance; rubber crumb; sealant.