ASPHALT CHARACTERIZATION AND PERFORMANCE STUDY. FINAL REPORT

Up until the Arab Oil Embargo in 1973 it seemed that the crudes used in asphalt production were stable and the resulting product was more stable. However, after 1973 the refineries began using heavier crudes for asphalt production and they changed crude sources more often. To monitor changes in refinery sources would require more than standard physical tests alone. Tests of chemical composition along with the physical tests would more effectively characterize asphalts. The primary objectives of this study were to develop test procedures for characterizing liquid asphalts by molecular size distribution and fractionation using high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Secondary objectives were to review the asphalt specifications and to attempt to relate field performance to the chemical test results. A repeatable test method was developed for accomplishing molecular size distribution tests on asphalt samples using high performance gel permeation chromatography. A repeatable test method was also developed for fractionating an asphalt sample using the HPLC in runs of only 8 minute duration. Over 400 samples were run on the HPLC and the data entered on a data base which was created on an IBM personal computer. A separate physical test data base was also created on the IBM PC. The review of specifications pointed up the need for a low temperature viscosity test. The Cannon Cone Plate Viscometer was used to obtain 77 deg F viscosities. A minimum 2.5 million poise specification limit was added for AC20 Special asphalts.

• Corporate Authors:

  Georgia Department of Transportation

  One Georgia Center
  600 West Peachtree Street, NW
  Atlanta, GA  United States  30308

  Federal Highway Administration

  1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Caylor, L
  • Sharp, T
• Publication Date: 1986-6

Media Info

• Pagination: 64 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt; Chemical composition; Gel permeation chromatography; Liquid asphalt; Liquid chromatography; Molecular structure; Performance; Petroleum refineries; Pressure; Production; Samples; Specifications; Test procedures; Testing; Viscosity
• Uncontrolled Terms: Field performance; High pressure
• Old TRIS Terms: Fractionation of sample; Molecular size distribution; Refineries; Test results; Viscosity test
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00475113
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Federal Highway Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: FHWA/GA-86/8301
• Files: TRIS, USDOT, STATEDOT
• Created Date: Nov 30 1987 12:00AM