.

UNIVERSITI PUTRA MALAYSIA

PERFORMANCE OF CELLULOSE PALM FIBER AS

AN ADDITIVE IN ASPHALT BLENDS

HOSSEIN JAFARIAHANGARI

FK 2008 61
 PERFORMANCE OF CELLULOSE PALM FIBER AS AN ADDITIVE IN
ASPHALT BLENDS

By

HOSSEIN JAFARIAHANGARI

Thesis Submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia,

in Fulfilment of the Requirement for the Degree of Master of Science

November 2008

i
 DEDICATION

Dedicated to my family for their love, support and encouragement.

ii
Abstract of thesis presented to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia in fulfilment
of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science

PERFORMANCE OF CELLULOSE PALM FIBER AS AN ADDITIVE IN

ASPHALT BLENDS

By

HOSSEIN JAFARIAHANGARI

November 2008

Chairman : Associate Professor Ratnasamy Muniandy, PhD

Faculty : Engineering

Due to the high oil prices, the cost of asphalt binder has increased tremendously.

This scenario has warranted demand for higher viscosity and less expensive asphalt

for pavement construction. A study was conducted to take advantage of the empty

fruit bunch (EFB) of date and oil palm trees (which are considered as wastes) to

produce cellulose fiber to be used as additives in the asphalt binder. If these EFBs

could be beneficially utilized in any application, it would reduce the load on the

nation’s landfills. This study comprises three stages. At the first stage of the study

the EFBs went through chemical and mechanical pulping to produce cellulose fibers,

to be used for blending with asphalt binder. The date palm EFB chemical

composition revealed alpha cellulose content of 36.1%, which is a very good source

of cellulose. At the second stage a total of 11 blends of bio-mastic asphalt (BMA)

were prepared. They consisted of 5 blends with chemically pulped date palm fibers,

5 blends with mechanically pulped oil palm fibers and one control sample that

contained no fiber. At the third stage of the study, the rheological properties of the

bio-mastic asphalt blends were evaluated with the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR)

iii
equipment in accordance with the SUPERPAVE Strategic Highway Research

Program (SHRP) requirements. The neat asphalt binders (unaged), Rolling Thin

Film Oven (RTFO) aged and Pressure Ageing Vessel (PAV) samples were then

measured for complex shear modulus, phase angle, shear strain and viscosity with

the Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) equipment and then evaluated with the SHRP

requirements. The results indicated that the fibers obtained from the date palm EFB

showed the best performance and all BMA blends performed very well compared to

the control sample. The control sample which was categorized as PG58 was

enhanced to PG76 with an addition of 0.375% date palm fiber. The oil palm has also

improved the asphalt binder rheological properties from PG58 up to PG70 with the

addition of 0.3% oil palm fiber.

iv
 Abstrak tesis yang dikemukakan kepada Senat Universiti Putra Malaysia sebagai
memenuhi keperluan untuk ijazah Master Sains

PRESTASI GENTIAN SELULOSA PALMA SEBAGAI BAHAN CAMPURAN

DIDALAM ASFALT

Oleh

HOSSEIN JAFARIAHANGARI

November 2008

Pengerusi . : Profesor Madya Ratnasamy Muniandy, PhD

Fakulti : Kejuruteraan

Disebabkan oleh kenaikan harga minyak, secara tidak langsung harga asfalt juga

turut meningkat. Keadaan ini menjadikan permintaan keperluan aspal likat yang

murah bagi kerja-kerja penurapan. Kajian ini dibuat untuk melihat kepentingan

bahan buangan daripada tandan buah palma (EFB) dan pokok kelapa sawit

menghasilkan serat selulosa untuk kegunaan bahan campuran tambahan bagi asfalt.

Sekiranya bahan EFB ini dimanfaatkan dan digunakan, bahan ini akan dapat

mengurangkan beban negara. Kajian ini tertumpu kepada tiga tahap. Tahap pertama

ialah kajian EFB untuk menghasilkan selulosa melalui proses kimia dan pulpa yang

akan digunakan dalam campuran simen asfalt. Kandungan bahan kimia yang

terdapat dalam tandan buah palma (EFB) mengandungi alfa selulosa sebanyak

36.1% , ini merupakan bahan yang sangat baik bagi selulosa. Tahap kedua kajian

ialah menyediakan 11 sebatian Asfalt Bio Mastik (BMA) iaitu 5 sebatian serat

kimia pulpa buah palma, 5 sebatian serat pulpa pokok kelapa sawit dan satu contoh

bahan yang tidak mengandungi serat untuk bahan kontrol. Tahap ketiga kajian ialah

kandungan rheologikal (rheological) Asfalt Bio Mastik likat di nilai menggunakan

v
alat Dynamic Shear Rhometer (DSR) berdasarkan keperluan penurapan yang dibuat

oleh Strategic Highway Research Program (RTFO). Contoh turapan asfalt (unaged),

Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) aged dan Pressure Ageing Vessel (PAV) diukur

untuk shear modulus, shear angle, shear strain menggunakan DSR kemudian dinilai

berdasarkan keperluan SHRP. Keputusan kajian memperlihatkan bahawa serat yang

diperoleh daripada tandan palma (EFB) sangat baik bagi semua sebatian BMA

dibandingkan dengan sampel kontrol. Sampel kontrol di kategorikan sebagai PG58

telah berubah kepada PG76 dengan penambahan 0.375% serat buah palma. Minyak

sawit juga meningkatkan kandungan rheologikal gabungan asfalt daripada PG58

kepada PG 70 dengan penambahan 0.3% minyak serat palma.

vi
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. All praise is due

to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

Sovereign of the Day of Judgment. You alone we worship, and to you alone we turn

for help. Guide us to the straight way; the way of those whom you have favored, not

of those who have incurred your wrath, Nor of those who have gone astray (Al-

Fatiha, the Opening chapter of the Holy Quran).

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all who have contributed in this

research. My greatest gratitude’s forwarded to my project supervisor, Assoc. Prof.

Dr. Ratnasamy Muniandy for his guidance, constructive comments, untiring support,

invaluable advices and suggestions in completing this research successfully.

I would like to thank the Ministry of Science, Technology and the Environment,

Malaysia for the IRPA research fund. It has enabled me to complete the study

without encountering any financial difficulties.

I would like to express my deep appreciation to all the staff member of the Chemical

Laboratory. Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) Kepong, who were of

great help during the fiber-processing phase. In particular, special thanks go to Dr.

Mohd. Noor Mohd. Yusoff (Head of Chemical Laboratory) and his colleagues.

vii
I would like to express my deep appreciation to Dr Meor Othman bin Hamzah and

the technical staff of the Pavement Engineering lab in Universiti Sains Malaysia

(USM), who were of great help during the third phase of this study.

Last but not least, may my family be blessed with good health, long life and

happiness for all the love and care they have given me all this while. Thanks also for

always having faith in me.

viii
I certify that an Examination Committee has met on 12th November 2008 to conduct
the final examination of Hossein Jafariahangari on his Master of Science thesis
entitled “Performance of Cellulose Palm Fiber as an Additive in Asphalt Blends” in
accordance with Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Act 1980 and
Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (Higher Degree) Regulations 1981. The Committee
recommends that the candidate be awarded the relevant degree. Members of the
Examination Committee are as follows:

Jamalodin b. Noorzaei, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Hussain Hamid, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)

Husaini Omar, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Internal Examiner)

Vernon Ray Schaefer, PhD

Professor
Faculty of Engineering
IOWA State University, USA
(External Examiner)

HASANAH MOHD. GHAZALI,

PhD
Professor and Deputy Dean
School of Graduate Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date:

ix
This thesis submitted to the Senate of Universiti Putra Malaysia has been accepted
as fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Master of Science. The members
of the Supervisory Committee are as follow:

Ratnasamy Myniandy, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Chairman)

Ir. Salihudin b. Hassim

Lecturer
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

Robiah bt. Yunus, PhD

Associate Professor
Faculty of Engineering
Universiti Putra Malaysia
(Member)

HASANAH MOHD.
GHAZALI, PhD
Professor and Dean
School of Graduate
Studies
Universiti Putra Malaysia

Date: 15 January 2009

x
 DECLARATION

I hereby declare that the thesis is based on my original work except for quotation
and citations, which have been duly acknowledged. I also declare that it has not been
previously or concurrently submitted for any other degree at UPM or other
institutions.

HOSSEIN JAFARIAHANGARI

Date:

xi
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

DEDICATION ii
ABSTRACT iii
ABSTRAK v
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS vii
APPROVAL ix
DECLARATION xi
LIST OF TABLES xv
LIST OF FIGURES xvii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS xxi

CHAPTER

1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background 1.1
1.2 Research Problem Statement 1.3
1.3 Scope of the Study 1.6
1.4 Assumptions and Limitations 1.7
1.5 Organization of the Thesis 1.8

2 LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1 Bio Mass Characteristics 2.1
2.1.1 Date and Oil Palm Morphology 2.2
2.1.2 Physical and Chemical Properties of Date and Oil 2.5
d Palm Fibers
2.1.3 Availability and Distribution of Date and Oil 2.9
d Palm Empty Fruit Bunches
2.2 Fiber Pulping Processes 2.15
2.2.1 Kraft Pulping Process 2.15
2.2.2 Recycle Pulping Process 2.16
2.2.3 Thermo Mechanical Pulping (TMP) Process 2.16
2.3 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Study 2.17
2.3.1 Types and Functionality of SEM 2.17
2.3.2 Major Use of SEM in Research 2.19
2.3.3 SEM Adaptation in Bio-Mass 2.22
2.4 Asphalt Binder Types and Physical Properties 2.23
2.4.1 Asphalt Binder Grading Systems and 2.23
ddddSpecifications
2.4.2 Types of Asphalt Binder being used in Road 2.26
ddddMixtures
2.5 Blending Additives in Asphalt 2.26
2.5.1 Natural Fibers 2.28
2.5.2 Non Biological Additives 2.34
2.5.3 Blending Methods 2.36

xii
 2.6 Determination of Asphalt Binder Rheological 2.38
Properties
2.6.1 Measuring Equipments for Rheological 2.39
ddddProperties
2.6.2 Measuring Parameters using Dynamic Shear 2.41
Rheometer
2.6.3 Evaluation of RTFO Aged Binder Rheological 2.47
ddddProperties
2.6.4 Evaluation of PAV Aged Binder Rheological 2.49
ddddProperties

2.7 Summary 2.51

3 METHODS AND MATERIALS

3.1 Introduction 3.1
3.2 Production of Cellulose Fiber 3.3
3.2.1 Fiber Production by RMP Method 3.3
3.2.2 Fiber Production by Chemical Pulping Method 3.5
3.3 Oil-Fiber Draindown Test 3.6
3.4 Analysis of Fiber Mechanical and Chemical Properties 3.6
3.4.1 EFB Chemical Composition Analysis 3.7
3.4.2 Mesh Screen Analysis 3.8
3.4.3 Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis 3.9
3.5 Asphalt Binder Physical Property Analysis 3.10
3.5.1 Penetration 3.10
3.5.2 Softening Point 3.11
3.5.3 Viscosity 3.11
3.6 Blending of Asphalt Binder and Cellulose Fiber 3.12
3.7 Rheological Property Evaluation of Bio Mastic 3.14
Asphalt
3.7.1 BMA Complex Shear Modulus Analysis 3.16
3.7.2 BMA Phase Angle Analysis 3.16
3.7.3 BMA Shear Strain Analysis 3.17
3.7.4 RTFO Aged BMA Rutting Behavior 3.17
3.7.5 PAV Aged BMA Fatigue Behavior 3.18
3.7.6 BMA Viscosity Behavior in Various 3.20
Temperatures
3.8 Analysis of BMA According to SHRP Requirements 3.20
3.9 Summary 3.22

4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Introduction 4.1
4.2 Fiber Production and Suitability Analysis 4.2
4.2.1 Fiber Production by RMP 4.2
4.2.2 Fiber Production by Chemical Pulping (KRAFT) 4.2
4.3 Selection of Fiber Pulp 4.3
4.4 Analysis of Fiber Mechanical and Chemical Properties 4.5
4.4.1 Mesh Screen Analysis 4.5

xiii
 4.4.2 Fiber Chemical Composition Analysis 4.6
4.4.3 Scanning Electron Microscope Analysis 4.9
4.5 Physical Property Analysis of Asphalt Binder 4.12
4.5.1 Penetration 4.12
4.5.2 Softening Point 4.12
4.5.3 Viscosity 4.13
4.6 Blending Analysis of Cellulose Fiber and Asphalt 4.14
Binder
4.7 Rheological Property Analysis of the Bio Mastic 4.17
Asphalt
4.7.1 BMA Complex Shear Modulus Analysis 4.17
4.7.2 BMA Phase Angle Analysis 4.28
4.7.3 BMA Shear Strain Analysis 4.36
4.7.4 BMA Viscosity Behavior in Various 4.45
Temperatures
4.7.5 Neat BMA Rutting Behavior Analysis 4.53
4.7.6 RTFO Aged BMA Rutting Behavior 4.54
4.7.7 PAV Aged BMA Fatigue Behavior 4.56
4.8 BMA Classification According to SHRP Requirements 4.57
4.9 Summary 4.59

5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

5.1 Recommendation 5.2

REFERENCES R.1

APPENDICES A.1

BIODATA OF AUTHOR B.1

xiv
 LIST OF TABLES

Table Page

2.1 Morphology of Oil Palm Trunk, Frond and Empty Fruit Bunches 2.4

2.2 Physical Characteristics of EFB 2.4

2.3 Composition of Fibrous Date Palm Parts 2.6

2.4 Oil Palm EFB Chemical Composition 2.7

2.5 Draindown Results of Cellulose Fibers 2.8

2.6 Date Palm Production 2.10

2.7 Production Record of a Californian Date Grower 2.11

2.8 Oil Palm Production 2.12

2.9 Oil Palm EFB Bio-Mass Supply in Malaysia (1996-2020) 2.14

2.10 ASTM Requirements for Penetration Graded Asphalt Binder 2.24

2.11 SUPERPAVE PG System 2.25

2.12 Cellulose Oil Palm Fiber (COPF) Size Distribution 2.29

2.13 Summary of Physical Properties of Cellulose Fiber Modified 2.29

Asphalt

2.14 Unconfined Compressive Repeated Load Test Results 2.32

2.15 Rutting Characteristics of SMA Mixtures 2.32

2.16 Particle Size Distribution of Cellulose Fibers 2.34

2.17 Average Indirect Tensile Strength and Tensile Strength Ratio 2.35
Results

2.18 SUPERPAVE Asphalt Binder Testing Equipment and Purpose 2.39

2.19 Target Shear Stress and Strain Values 2.42

3.1 Chemical Composition Measuring Standards 3.8

4.1 CDPF RMP Draindown 4.2

xv
4.2 CDPF KRAFT Draindown 4.3

4.3 COPF Draindown 4.3

4.4 Result of Oil-Draindown for Various Fibers 4.4

4.5 Average Percentage Passing for Fiber Sieve Analysis 4.5

4.6 CDPF Chemical Composition 4.7

4.7 Penetration Test Results of 80/100 Penetration Grade Asphalt 4.12

Binder

4.8 Softening Point Test Results of 80/100 Penetration Grade Asphalt 4.12
Binder

4.9 Viscosity of 80/100 Penetration Grade Asphalt Binder 4.12

4.10 Summary of 80/100 Penetration Grade Asphalt Binder Physical 4.13

Properties

4.11 BMA Blending Procedure 4.15

4.12 Weight of Fiber Blended with 250g Binder 4.16

4.13 Complex Shear Modulus Master Curves 4.26

4.14 Phase Angle Master Curves 4.35

4.15 Shear Strain Master Curves 4.44

4.16 Viscosity Master Curves 4.52

4.17 Neat-Aged BMA Rutting Behavior 4.53

4.18 RTFO-Aged BMA Rutting Behavior 4.55

4.19 PAV-Aged BMA Fatigue Behavior 4.56

4.20 BMA Performance Grading 4.58

xvi
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure Page

1.1 Crude Oil Price 1.2

2.1 Schematic Picture of the Date Palm during a One-Year Production 2.2
Cycle

2.2 Major Parts of the Date Palm 2.3

2.3 Motor Oil Retention by Type of Fiber 2.8

2.4 Percentages of Draindown for Various Fiber Contents 2.8

2.5 Places Where Date Palms are Grown 2.9

2.6 Oil Palm EFB 2.13

2.7 Thermo Mechanical Pulping Setup 2.16

2.8 SEM Setup 2.17

2.9 Schematic View of SEM 2.18

2.10 SEM Images of Geopolymeric Paste Without Fly Ash 2.19

2.11 SEM Images of Geopolymeric Paste With 50% Fly Ash 2.19

2.12 SEM Image Showing Boundary Between GSLA and Asphalt 2.20
Binder

2.13 SEM Micrographs Showing Interface Characteristics Between BOF 2.21

Slags and Asphalt Binder

2.14 SEM Morphological Image of Polyester Fiber 2.22

2.15 SEM Close-Up View of COPF 2.22

2.16 Comparison of Penetration Grades and Viscosity Grades of Asphalt 2.25

Binders

2.17 Rheological properties of COPF Modified Binder 2.31

2.18 Date Palm Fiber in Open Graded Friction Course Mixture 2.33

2.19 Draindown Results at Varying Binder Contents 2.34

xvii
2.20 Evolution of the Softening Point of Processed Bitumen Against the 2.37
Mixing Time

2.21 The Evolution of Penetration of Processed Bitumen as a Function 2.37

of Mixing Time

2.22 Mechanical Response of Elastic, Viscous, and Viscoelastic 2.38

Materials

2.23 Asphalt Binder Rheology Measuring Equipments 2.41

2.24 Schematic Configuration of the DSR Equipment 2.42

2.25 Configuration and Load Cycle of DSR 2.43

2.26 Relationship Between Complex Modulus and Phase Angle 2.46

2.27 RTFO Equipment 2.49

2.28 PAV Equipment 2.51

3.1 Flowchart for the Research Methodology 3.3

3.2 RMP Method 3.4

3.3 Kraft Pulping Apparatus 3.5

3.4 Sieve Analysis Setup 3.9

3.5 SEM Setup 3.10

3.6 Brookfield Viscometer Setup 3.11

3.7 Asphalt Binder Preparation for Blending with Cellulose Fiber 3.12

3.8 Blending Process 3.13

3.9 HAAKE DSR Equipment 3.15

3.10 RTFO Equipment 3.18

3.11 PAV Equipment 3.19

3.12 Methodology Flowchart 3.21

3.13 Research Experimental Design 3.22

4.1 Percentage of Oil Draindown by Type of Fiber 4.4

xviii
4.2 Percentage Passing of Various Fibers 4.6

4.3 SEM View of CDPF at 500x Magnification 4.9

4.4 SEM View of CDPF at 1000x Magnification 4.10

4.5 SEM View of CDPF Cross Section at 5000x Magnification 4.10

4.6 SEM View of CDPF Surface at 10000x Magnification 4.11

4.7 Viscosity-Temperature Curve 4.14

4.8 Neat BMA Complex Shear Modulus 4.18

4.9 Neat BMA G* Performance at Various Testing Time 4.21

4.10 RTFO-Aged BMA Complex Shear Modulus 4.23

4.11 PAV-Aged BMA Complex Shear Modulus 4.25

4.12 Complex Shear Modulus at 60°C 4.27

4.13 Neat BMA Phase Angle 4.29

4.14 RTFO-Aged BMA Phase Angle 4.31

4.15 PAV-Aged BMA Phase Angle 4.34

4.16 BMA Phase Angle Performance at 60°C 4.36

4.17 Neat BMA Shear Strain 4.38

4.18 RTFO Aged BMA Shear Strain 4.40

4.19 PAV Aged BMA Shear Strain 4.42

4.20 Shear Strain at 60°C 4.43

4.21 Neat BMA Viscosity 4.46

4.22 RTFO Aged BMA Viscosity 4.48

4.23 PAV Aged BMA Viscosity 4.50

4.24 Viscosity at 60°C 4.51

4.25 Neat BMA Rutting Behavior 4.54

xix
4.26 Maximum RTFO-Aged BMA Rutting Failure Temperature 4.55

4.27 Minimum PAV-Aged BMA Fatigue Failure Temperature 4.57

4.28 BMA PG System 4.59

xx
 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AASHTO American Association of State Highway and Transportation

Officials

AB Asphalt Binder

AC Asphalt Cement

Agg Aggregate

AR Aged Residue

ASTM American Society for Testing and Materials

av Average

AOH Absorbable Organic Halides

AI Asphalt Institute

BMA Bio Mastic Asphalt

BOF Basic Oxygen Furnace

BBR Bending Beam Rheometer

CDPF Cellulose Date Palm Fiber

COPF Cellulose Oil Palm Fiber

CP Chemical Pulping

CRMB Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen

DSR Dynamic Shear Rheometer

DTT Direct Tension Tester

P SBR Polymer

PF Date Palm Fiber

PMB Polymer Modified Binder

DSR Dynamic Shear Rheometer

xxi
EFB Empty Fruit Bunch

ECF Elemental Chlorine Free

EVA Ethylene Vinyl Acetate

FRIM Forest Research Institute of Malaysia

FELDA Federal Land Development Authority

g gram

GSLA Granulated Synthetic Lightweight Aggregate

ha Hectare

HMA Hot Mix Asphalt

HWTD Hamburg Wheel Tracking Device

ITS Indirect Tensile Strength

JKR Jabatan Kerja Raya

LVE Linear Viscoelastic

Max Maximum

min Minute

Min Minimum

NAPA National Asphalt Pavement Association

OAC Optimum Asphalt Content

PAV Pressure Aging Vessel

PG Performance Grade

PFP Date Palm Fiber and Polymer

RMP Refinery Mechanical Pulping

RPM Revolutions Per Minute

RTFO Rolling Thin Film Oven

xxii
RTFOT Rolling Thin Film Oven Test

RV Rotational Viscometer

SHRP Strategic Highway Research Program

SMA Stone Mastic Asphalt

SEM Scanning Electron Microscope

SBR Styrene Butadiene Rubber

TAPPI Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry

TMP Thermal Mechanical Pulping

TCF Total Chlorine Free

t Ton

T Temperature

TF Textile Fiber

TFP Textile Fiber and Polymer

TSR Tensile Strength Ratio

USM Universiti Sains Malaysia

UPM Universiti Putra Malaysia

U.S United States

U.S.A United States of America

WA Western Australian

xxiii
 CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Asphalt binders have been widely used in flexible pavements because of their good

adhesion to mineral aggregates and viscoelastic properties (Akmal and Usmani

1999). Unfortunately, asphalt mixture or coating layer shows severe temperature

susceptibility such as high-temperature rutting, medium-temperature fatigue and

low-temperature cracking damage. Therefore, asphalt mixtures should be modified

in some way to improve their rheological properties.

According to Roberts et al. (1996) an estimate of 500 million tons of hot mix asphalt

was produced and placed in pavement in the United States alone, costing about

$10.5 billion. Scientists and engineers are constantly trying to improve the

performance of these pavements through programs such as the Strategic Highway

Research Program (SHRP); SHRP began developing new performance related tests

for measuring the physical properties of asphalt binder.

Modification and stabilization of the asphalt binder is one approach to improve the

pavement performance especially for gap-graded mixtures such as Stone Mastic

Asphalt (SMA) which require higher viscosity asphalt binder. A common method

for asphalt binder modification is by adding polymer, although rubber and other oil

based materials are being used to enhance the viscosity of the base binder. The

rheological performance of the traditionally 80/100 penetration-graded asphalt

1.1