Properties of cutback binders used for sealing during cold temperatures in South Africa

The high demand for bitumen during the South African summer season and the inability of local refineries to consistently meet the national demand for bitumen has resulted in project delays for major sealing contracts. One solution is the introduction of winter seal work. However, lower winter temperatures have long been associated with temperature related adhesion failures of surfacing seals. This problem may be overcome with the introduction of low temperature-friendly binders, often in the form of binders that have been cut back with low or high flash point solvents. Although cutback binders can promote early adhesion at lower temperatures, the effect of excessive cutter on seal performance may be seen as flushing and/or shoving of the seal, with the attendant loss of skid resistance. This paper describes the properties of four original binders (70/100 penetration grade bitumen, SBR – and SBS – modified bitumen, as well as S-R1 crumb rubber modified bitumen) and their cutback forms in terms of Softening Point, Brookfield Viscosity, Complex Modulus and Gas Chromatographic analysis. The results were analysed and employed to ascertain the effect of the cutter on the original binder and detect any negative effects on the binder properties at an early stage, as well as use the properties of the cut-back binder to tentatively propose a cutback binder specification.

• Authors:
  • O’Connell, J
  • Mturi, G A
  • Bredenhann, S
• Conference:
  • Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa (CAPSA15), 11th, 2015, Sun City, South Africa
• Publication Date: 2015-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 8p
• Monograph Title: 11th Conference on Asphalt Pavements for Southern Africa: CAPSA15, 16-19 August 2015, Sun City, South Africa

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Binder content; Bitumen; Pavement performance; Scheduling; Seasons; Travel demand management
• Uncontrolled Terms: Materials technology (asphalt/bitumen/concrete)
• Geographic Terms: South Africa
• ATRI Terms: Binder content; Bitumen; Demand management; Pavement performance; Scheduling; Season
• Subject Areas: Design; Geotechnology; Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01597138
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Apr 22 2016 11:16AM