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Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290

11th Transportation Planning and Implementation Methodologies for Developing Countries,

TPMDC 2014, 10-12 December 2014, Mumbai, India

Understanding Aging Behaviour of Conventional Asphalt

Binders used in India
Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeria, Krishna Prapoorna Biligirib,*
a
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur,West Bengal 721 302, India
b,*
Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, West Bengal 721 302, India

Abstract

Aging is one of the most important and dynamic characteristics of asphalt materials. Aging helps predict the life of a
flexible pavement owing to the adhesive characteristics of binders with aggregate particles. With advancement in
age, the asphalt mix components including binders oxidize, and volatilization of oils takes place, which render
asphalt mixes higher stiffness, thus, increasing viscosity. Certain parameters are found to be essential in a
comprehensive understanding of aging characteristics of asphalt binders such as asphaltenes. Thus, there is a need to
investigate the effect of these parameters on aging in order to predict pavement life over its design period. The main
objective of this research study was to understand aging behaviour of two conventional (virgin) asphalt binders
commonly used and practiced in road construction activities in India at unaged and short-term aged conditions:
viscosity graded VG-30 and VG-40 binders. The significant outcome of the study was that it gave an assurance that
asphalt aging can be effectively scrutinized by mapping the chemical constituents of the binder and thus paves a way
for future research in this area. In this study, the amount of asphaltenes was selected as the chemical parameter. The
findings showed that this parameter was more perceptible in studying the aging behaviour of asphalt binder, and
hence is certainly a promising performance indicator. Hence, future studies are envisioned to establish asphaltene as
a rational and critical indicator to understand aging performance parameters of asphalt binders and mixtures.

©
© 2016
2015TheTheAuthors. Published
Authors. by Elsevier
Published B.V. B.
by Elsevier This
V.is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay.
Peer-review under responsibility of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Keywords: asphalt aging, VG-30, VG-40, unaged, short-term aged, aging indices

2352-1465 © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Peer-review under responsibility of the Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
doi:10.1016/j.trpro.2016.11.094
 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290 283

1. Introduction
Efficient roads have a crucial role to play in the infrastructure development of any economy. The objectives of a
good transportation infrastructure are to boost trade, commerce, and movement of people and goods between
destinations. As part of infrastructure development, roads that are constructed must also be monitored efficiently for
their performance and quality. For instance, with advancement in the design life, roads age and deteriorate showing
reduction in their performance characteristics, consequently needing maintenance and rehabilitation to bring back
efficiency in their structural and functional properties. This exercise requires certain parameters to be investigated
continuously to check for the performance of different types of pavements (roads).
Although there are several parameters affecting flexible pavement performance, factors significantly
influencing the performance durability of asphalt pavements include: age hardening and moisture damage. Age
hardening is manifested due to an increase in viscosity of the asphalt binder; while moisture damage is a resultant of
the loss of cohesion in the asphalt mix or loss of adhesion between asphalt cement and aggregates, which is called
stripping [1]. Oxidation, loss of volatiles and thixotropic effects (steric hardening) tend to be accepted as three
dominant factors affecting age hardening of petroleum products [2][3]. Age hardening can result in two major
effects: first, load-bearing capacity and permanent deformation resistance may increase due to the pavement
becoming stiffer; and second, it can result in the formation of cracks in the pavement due to reduced pavement
flexibility [4].
Asphalt aging is a very complex process resulting in the hardening of asphalt binders and embrittlement,
both in application and service, which contribute significantly to the deterioration of paving surfaces [5]. Asphalt
binders are organic substances whose mechanical properties and chemical structures change with time during
operations of production, mixing, laying, and also during the course of service life of a pavement system [4]. In
simple words, oxidative aging results in hardening of asphalt binder and thus causes pavement deterioration. Several
research studies have established that asphalt aging fundamentally occurs in two phases: short-term and long-term
aging conditions [6]. Short-term aging phase occurs during the production stage at high temperatures, which are
inclusive of blending, mixing and compaction processes of asphalt binders with aggregates. Although the
temperatures cool down after production of the mix, loss of volatile fractions such as oils in the asphalt binders play
a significant role in oxidizing the binders. In the course of asphalt pavement material performance and service, long-
term aging of binders occurs due to a multitude of factors such as temperature, traffic load, and environmental
effects [7][8]. Regardless of the conditions from production through service life of an asphalt pavement system, it is
certain that aging results in the loss of durability.
In order to understand aging characteristics of asphalt binders at three aging conditions (un-aged, short-
term, and long-term), a suite of conventional binder consistency tests are performed such as penetration, softening
point, and viscosity, and more advanced tests using dynamic shear rheometer, bending beam rheometer, and so on.
Aging of binders are performed using Rolling Thin Film Oven (RTFO) and Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV) test
procedures. However, it is ideal if rational parametric aging indices are able to explain the overall aging behaviour
of asphalt binders with knowledge of the fundamental binder consistency mechanics. Furthermore, the
physiochemical properties of asphalt binders are best studied based on basic constituents of asphalt binders that have
not been extensively investigated.
In the Indian context, road construction and its quality still is a technical concern from perspectives of both
contractors and engineers. As a result, pavements fail earlier than their design lives. However, Indian Roads
Congress, in association with different research institutes across the country has initiated a number of research
programs to develop and adopt design guidelines for both flexible and rigid pavement systems in order to study
pavement distresses, causes and mitigation strategies to maintain network of roadway pavements. With respect to
asphalt binders used in India for road construction, viscosity graded VG-30 is the most widely used asphalt binder.
In the areas with hot climatic conditions, attempts are being made to replace VG-30 with VG-40 binder so as to
reduce rutting of asphalt pavements. In addition, there is an increasing interest to use modified asphalt binders such
as Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB) and Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen (CRMB) due to an improved
performance of these binders at a wide range of temperatures. At the same time, the common aggregate gradations
that are used in India are DBM (Dense Bituminous Macadam), SDBC (Semi Dense Bituminous Concrete) and BC
(Bituminous Concrete) types. In order to understand performance of Indian pavements during their design lives, it is
of utmost importance to estimate performance indicators, and establish aging indices. Thus, there is a definitive need
to develop and/or establish rational performance indicators to comprehensively understand asphalt aging behaviour
of various Indian asphalt binders and mixtures from fundamental materials perspective.
284 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290

2. Objective and scope of the effort

The objective of this research study was to understand the aging behaviour of two conventional (virgin) asphalt
binders commonly used and practiced in road construction activities in India at un-aged and short-term aged
conditions: viscosity graded VG-30 and VG-40 binders. The scope of the work encompassed the following tasks:
a) Literature review pertinent to aging behaviour of asphalts, and the available parameters that are in vogue to check
for binder performance
b) Conduct asphalt binder consistency tests for penetration, viscosity, softening point for unaged and short-term
aged conditions
c) Develop aging indices and performance indicators for two different virgin binders based upon physiochemical
properties
d) Selection of bitumen type for construction based on performance data

3. Theoretical background

Typically, crude oils consist of four solubility fractions: saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes, abbreviated as
SARA [9]. Saturates generally consist of naphthenes and paraffins. Aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes appear to
form a continuum of poly-nuclear aromatic species of increasing molar mass, polarity, and heteroatom content [10].
Asphaltenes are defined as crude oil fraction that precipitate upon addition of an n-alkane (usually n-pentane or n-
heptane) but remain soluble in toluene [11]. The colloidal structure and stability of asphaltenes in residues and
asphalts are directly connected with aging. Due to aging processes, a variation of both chemical composition and
colloidal structure is observed when asphaltenes’ oxidation and the structuring processes of molecules and clusters
are considered as the principal factors responsible for such variations [12]. The evolution of the colloidal structure
has a very large effect on viscoelastic properties of residues and asphalt. An increase in asphaltene content is a
consequence of the well-known effect that aging has on asphalt SARA composition. Aging causes a shift of all the
solubility classes (asphaltenes, resins and saturates plus aromatics) towards the preceding, adjacent class, i.e. a part
of aromatics and saturates is converted to resins, and a part of resins to asphaltenes. This conversion gives rise to a
light increase of the peptized material: asphaltenes [13]. Also, according to the study carried out by [14], it was
found that asphaltene contents were higher in PAV aged asphalts than in RTFO aged asphalt binders.

4. Experimental program, results and discussion

To understand the aging behaviour of the two asphalt binders commonly used in India, an experimental program
was devised and undertaken as follows. Along with the routine binder consistency tests, a novel technique of
extraction of asphaltenes from asphalt binders was carried out. The basis of the introduction of this novel idea was to
check the importance of asphaltenes in asphalt aging as well as to pave way to understand a unique performance
indicator (parameter) involved in the study and scrutiny of asphalt pavements in India. Two binders VG-30 and VG-
40 were used in the research study because these binders represent the major chunk of the asphalt binders commonly
used in India. The asphalt binders were tested for penetration [15], softening point [16], viscosity [17], and
extraction of the amount of asphaltenes for un-aged and short-term aged conditions. For the two asphalt binders,
asphaltenes content was determined as per [18].
The apparatus setup used for asphaltenes extraction is shown in Fig. 1. Short-term aging was simulated in a
Thin Film Oven as per [19], and as shown in Fig. 2. The experimental matrix for the study is shown in Table 1,
where a total of 28 samples were used for testing purposes. Penetration and softening point test results are tabulated
in Table 2.
 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290 285

Fig. 1. Asphaltene extraction apparatus Fig. 2. Thin Film Oven for Short-Term Aging

It was observed that penetration values decreased from unaged to short-term aged condition. Penetrations of VG-40
were found to be less than those of the VG-30 binders. Penetration of VG-30 was 9.67% higher than VG-40 binder
in unaged condition, and 7.69% higher in short-term aged condition. Penetration of VG-30 in unaged condition was
21.43% higher than that in the short-term aged condition, and this value in case of the VG-40 binder was 19.23%.
This was due to the fact that the binders become stiff due to a loss of volatile oils during short-term aging condition.
On the other hand, softening point of short-term aged binder was more than the corresponding unaged one. For the
VG-30 binder, softening point was 11.11% higher in short-term aged condition than in an unaged condition. This
value in case of VG-40 was about 14.75%. Also, softening point of VG-40 was more than VG-30 in both the aging
conditions. In unaged condition, the value was 12.9%, and in short-term aged condition it was 16.67%. The reason
again lies in the stiffening of the binder due to short-term aging.

Table 1 Experimental matrix and number of test samples

Tests VG-30 VG-30 Short- VG-40 VG-40 Short-

Unaged Term Aged Unaged Term Aged
Penetration 2 2 2 2
Viscosity 1 1 1 1
Softening point 2 2 2 2
Asphaltene content 2 2 2 2
Total 7 7 7 7
Total Number of Samples 28

Table 2 Penetration and softening point test results

Penetration (0.1 mm) Softening Point (ºC)

Binder Unaged Short-Term Aged Unaged Short-Term Aged
VG-30 34 28 54 60
VG-40 31 26 61 70
286 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290

Fig. 3. Rotational viscometer test apparatus and data acquisition

Viscosity tests were carried out using Brookfield rotational viscometer whose experimental setup is shown
in Fig. 3. Rotational viscosities for the three temperatures are reported in Table 3. It was found that viscosities
showed a decreasing trend with increasing temperature. It is also noteworthy that viscosity values of VG-40 were
more than that of VG-30 binders for both aging conditions. Similarly, viscosity values of short-term aged asphalt
binders were more than that for the unaged ones for both VG-30 and VG-40 binders. For the VG-30 binder, in an
unaged condition, viscosity value reduced by 70.25% with an increase in temperature from 150 to 170 ºC. In short-
term aged condition, the reduction value was about 68.98%. This was indicative that in short-term aged condition,
viscosity values are less susceptible to change in the temperatures as compared to the unaged condition. A similar
trend was observed in case of the VG-40 binder. For the unaged condition, the viscosity reduced by 61%, and for the
short-term aged condition, the reduction was about 53.45%.
The results of the asphaltenes content test are reported as percentage weight of asphaltenes per unit weight
of the asphalt binder in Table 4. For VG-30 binder, asphaltenes content in short-term aged condition increased by
78.79% as compared to that of the unaged condition. For VG-40 binder, asphaltene content increased manifolds.
Thus, due to aging, the amount of asphaltenes increased corroborating the actual characteristics of the asphalt
binders in that as asphalt binder gets aged, the amount of asphaltenes increases due to a shift of all the solubility
classes in the binder matrix. This kind of increase was higher in case of VG-40 binder than that of VG-30 binder.
Table 3 Viscosity test results in centipoise

Temperature VG-30 VG-30 Short-Term VG-40 VG-40 Short-Term

( ºC) Unaged Aged Unaged Aged
150 277.76 518.9 442.6 486.82
160 173.51 355.34 352.8 388.32
170 103.23 275.61 261.44 321.97
 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290 287

Table 4 Asphaltene Content Test Results

Asphaltene (%m/m)

Binder Unaged Short-Term Aged

VG-30 3.16 5.65

VG-40 4.35 16.1

The results of penetration, softening point and rotational viscosities were plotted in the form of ASTM A-
VTS relationships to understand the viscosity-temperature susceptibility of the two types of virgin binders. A-VTS
relationships for VG-30 and VG-40 are shown in Figs. 4 and 5, respectively. The VTS values give an insight of the
susceptibility of the viscosity of the binder with respect to a change in the temperature. The VTS value of the VG-30
was greater than that of the VG-40 binder. Thus, it can be concluded that VG-30 will be more susceptible to
temperature than the VG-40 binder. That is, VG-40 will have comparatively lower viscosities in the low temperature
range which will lower the possibility of low temperature thermal cracking in the asphalt pavements, and will have
comparatively higher viscosities in the high temperature range which will increase its resistance to rutting.
The change in the behaviour of asphalt due to aging was captured by establishing the Aging Index (AI). AI
for a given performance parameter is defined as the ratio of the value of the performance parameter after aging to the
value of that parameter in the unaged condition. The AIs were found for penetration, softening point and asphaltenes
content, and are reported in Table 5. For all these three parameters, the AI was higher for VG-40 binder than the
VG-30 binder. Table 5 shows the variation of the indices from VG-30 to VG-40 for the different parameters. It can
be observed that the highest change was in the amount of the asphaltenes in the binders. Hence, it can be concluded
that the aging behaviour can be captured in a more effective way by mapping the amount of asphaltenes because the
change in its values is more perceptible than the other parameters.

Fig. 4. A-VTS Plots for VG-30 Fig. 5. A-VTS Plots for VG-30

Table 5 Aging Indices

Parameter VG-30 VG-40 Increase

By
Penetration 0.823 0.838 1.82%

Asphaltene 1.78 3.7 107.86%

Softening Point 1.11 1.14 2.7%

288 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290

Fig. 6. Plot of Viscosity Aging Index Vs Temperature

Owing to pronounced viscoelastic behaviour of the asphalt binder, viscosities change with respect to
temperature. Hence, AIs also have to be reported at different temperatures. Fig. 6 shows a relationship of AIs of both
VG-30 and VG-40 binders with respect to temperature. For VG-40 binder, the values were steadily increasing while
for VG-30 binder, values steeply increased. This can be explained based on the fact that VG-40 binder had lower
VTS as compared to VG-30 binder. The results can be extrapolated to have AIs at different temperatures. The
significance of such an exercise is that AI can be obtained for a required temperature based upon the climatic
conditions of the relevant geographical area. This value can be linked to the relevant performance parameter in the
asphalt mixture at similar temperature to have a better idea of how pavement behaves at that particular temperature.

5. Selection of bitumen for use based on performance indicator

Selection of the type and grade of asphalt binders for road construction is one of the most challenging decisions that
have to be taken by asphalt technologists. The complexity of the issue is due to the co-existing and complementary
effects on the pavement performance. If asphalt binder used is very stiff with high viscosity, this will lead to
cracking in pavements. On the other hand, use of a soft grade of binder will result in rutting of the resultant asphalt
pavements. It is important to predict the behaviour of binders during service life of a pavement to help solve this
complex issue. Aging indices developed in this research study should definitely be applied in the case of binder
selection for pavements. A binder exhibiting lower AI would be suitable for areas with hot climatic conditions and
high traffic, and an asphalt binder showing higher AI would be ideal for cold climatic areas with low traffic. Thus,
asphaltene AI as a performance parameter will certainly assist in design and construction of durable pavements.
 Yogesh Shamsunder Kumbargeri and Krishna Prapoorna Biligiri / Transportation Research Procedia 17 (2016) 282 – 290 289

6. Conclusions

The main objective of this research study was to understand the aging behaviour of two conventional (virgin) asphalt
binders commonly used and practiced in road construction activities in India at unaged and short-term aged
conditions: VG-30 and VG-40 binders. This study was primarily undertaken to analyze and understand the aging
behaviour of the commonly used asphalt binders in India. It was observed that behaviour of the asphalt binder
changes significantly as it gets aged. This was illustrated by the change in the values of penetration, softening point
and viscosity. The significant outcome of the study was that it gave an assurance that asphalt aging can be
effectively scrutinized by mapping the chemical constituents of the binder and thus paves a way for future research
in this area. In this study, the amount of asphaltenes was selected as the chemical parameter. The findings showed
that this parameter was more perceptible in studying the aging behaviour of asphalt binder, and hence is certainly a
promising performance indicator.

7. Future scope of research

This study can be further extended to other constituents such as saturates, resins and oils. The study was carried out
using two virgin binders and at two aging conditions. This can be further extended for other binders and long-term
aging condition as well. Furthermore, a predictive model for the amount of asphaltenes for the different binders and
different aging conditions can be developed. This will act as a guide to help select an appropriate binder grade which
can be used under different climatic conditions. Hence, future studies are envisioned to establish asphaltenes as a
rational and critical indicator to understand aging performance parameters of the asphalt binders and mixtures.

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