International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)

Volume 10, Issue 03, March 2019, pp. 1334-1340, Article ID: IJCIET_10_03_129
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ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316

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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONVENTIONAL

AND EPOXY MODIFIED BITUMINOUS MIX
Sumesh Sharma
Me Student of Chandigarh University Gharuan Mohali (Civil Department)

Er. Avani Chopra

Assistant Professor of Chandigarh University Gharuan Mohali (Civil Department)

ABSTRACT
The efficacious way to increase the life time of asphalt mix pavement subjected to
traffic load is the modification of bitumen with the thermosetting polymers. In this
study epoxy resin is used for the modification of bitumen. The epoxy resin added in
different % in the bitumen mix (that’s 1, 2, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75& 4) and the test result of
modified and unmodified mix are compared by the marshal test. The properties of the
mix evaluated by the marshal are stability, flow, air voids, volume of mineral
aggregates & void filled with bitumen. The optimum content of epoxy resin to be
added in the bitumen mix is 3.25% as per marshal test. The softening point and
penetration test is conducted on the modified and unmodified bitumen and the test
results of the modified bitumen are better as compared to unmodified bitumen.
Key words: Epoxy resin, marshal test, softening point, penetration value, Asphalt.
Cite this Article: Sumesh Sharma and Er. Avani Chopra, Comparative Study of
Conventional and Epoxy Modified Bituminous Mix., International Journal of Civil
Engineering and Technology, 10(3), 2019, pp. 1334-1340
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1 INTRODUCTION
In India the actual duration of bituminous pavement is (5- 10) years instead of design life
untimely repair and rehabilitation of pavement needs additional cost which will directly
increase the construction cost of pavement. The one of tshe main reason of quick
deterioration of the pavement in condition of adverse climatic factor and heavy traffic loads is
bitumen properties. From all the materials of road construction bitumen is more sensory to
adverse climatic factor due to its thermoplastic properties bitumen is softened at high
temperatures (summers) and it becomes brittle at low temperatures (winters) which leads to
the formation deformation in pavement. Such as (Ruts, cracks, potholes and pits on the
pavement) the most efficacious way to increase the properties of bitumen is the addition of

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 Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project

different additives particularly by polymer the use of thermosetting polymer epoxy resin as a
modifier in a bitumen is a great solution for that.
Epoxy resin are the thermosetting polymer where resin molecule contain one or more
epoxide groups which are formed by the copolymerization of an epoxide groups with another
compound having two hydroxyl group and mostly used in coating and adhesives. These
resins are characterized by their strength or hardness
China began to apply and study polymer concrete in the middle of 20th century. However
in our country the research on epoxy resin is on physical and mechanical properties of the
material.

2 MATERIALS
2.1. Bitumen
In this study the VG 40 grade is used to prepare the samples for experiment as per (IRC: 111-
2009)

2.2. Fine aggregates

In this study fine aggregates are taken as per IS - 383 and the aggregates should be clean, dry,
durable, hard and free from deterous material.

2.3. Coarse aggregates

The coarse aggregates was used as per MORTH specifications

Table 1: Test results of aggregates:-

Name of test Test results Acceptance limits
Impact test 15.5 % 24 % max (MORTH)
Los angles abrasion test 20.45 % 30 % max (MORTH)
Water absorption 1.09 % 2 % max (MORTH)
Specific gravity test
Coarse aggregates 2.77 2.5-3.0 (MORTH)
Fine aggregates 2.65 2.5-3.0 (MORTH)
Crushing strength test 19.40 % 30 % max (BIS & IRC)

2.4. Fillers
The fillers a used in this study was as per MORTH specification.

2.5. Epoxy resin

In this study epoxy resin used was in powder form.

3. PREPARATION OF MIX
The preparation of conventional asphalt mix is done by using traditional technology
The epoxy asphalt mix may include the following steps:-
 Batching and mixing of coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and fillers acc to the
grading required.
 Heat the mixture of aggregates acc to the required temperature.

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 Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi

 Introduce the epoxy resin into the bitumen which is heated to the required
temperature followed by the mixing by (5- 10) minutes
 Introduce the epoxy modified bitumen into the mixture of heated aggregates ,
followed by mixing
After the preparation of mix the specimens of different percentages of epoxy added
asphalt are prepared for the marshal test. For each percentage three specimens are prepared to
take the mean value of specimens.

4. MARSHAL APPARATUS
An automatic electrically operated device was used to test the specimen the compacted
samples are placed in Marshal Apparatus and the stability and flow value of the specimens
was calculated.

4.1. Test procedure

Acc to (ASTM D 6927- 15) each of the test specimen was subjected to the following test
Stability and flow determination, air voids, VMA & VFB

4.2. Test results

Table 2: Marshal Stability, flow, VA, VMA and VFB values for epoxy modified bitumen mix at
optimum bitumen content 5%
Percentage VA (%) VMA (%) VFB (%) Stability(kg) Flow(mm)
0 5.69 17.45 67.39 2284.12 2.10
1 7.13 18.52 61.50 2335.11 2.21
2 6.65 18.16 63.36 2416.6 2.36
3 6.27 18.16 65.47 2467.6 2.42
3.25 5.01 17.09 70.68 2508.46 2.55
3.50 6.43 17.80 63.87 2437.08 2.56
3.75 6.56 18.52 64.57 2273.9 2.67
4 7.75 19.58 60.41 2233.14 2.72
Range as per
MORTH
specification 3-6 Min 11 65-75 >900 2-4

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 Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project

2550
2500
2450
2400
2350

Stablity
2300
2250
stablity (Kg)
2200
2150
2100
2050
1 2 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content %

Figure 1: Effect of epoxy resin on stability of bitumen mix

3
2.5
2
ow value

1.5
1 ow value
0.5
0
1 2 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content

Figure 2: Effect of epoxy resin on flow value of bitumen mix

9
8
7
6
5
VA

4
VA
3
2
1
0
1 2 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content %

Figure 3: Effect of epoxy resin on air voids of bitumen mix

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 Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi

20
19.5
19
18.5
18
VMA
17.5
VMA
17
16.5
16
15.5
1 2 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content %

Figure 4: Effect of epoxy resin on volume of mineral aggregates of bitumen mix

Figure 5: Effect of epoxy resin on voids filled with bitumen of bitumen mix

4.3. Softening point:-This test is performed acc (IS: 1205-1978)

Table 3: Test results of softening point of modified bitumen
%age of bitumen replaced by epoxy Softening point in (˚C)
0 53
1 54
2 56
3 58
3.25 59
3.5 59
3.75 60
4 61

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 Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project

Figure 6: Effect of epoxy content on softening point of bitumen

4.4. Penetration test:-This test is performed acc to (IS: 1203-1978)

Table 4 Test result of penetration value of modified bitumen
%age of bitumen replaced by epoxy Penetration value in (mm)
0 49
1 47
2 46
3 44
3.25 43
3.5 43
3.75 41
4 40
60
penetra on value in (mm)

50

40

30
penetra on value
in (mm)
20

10

0
0 1 2 3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content %

Figure 7: Effect of epoxy resin on penetration value of bitumen

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 Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi

5. CONCLUSIONS
After adding the epoxy content into the bitumen will enhance the properties of bitumen it will
increase the softening point of bitumen which means that bitumen should not be softened at
higher temperature during summers.
The penetration value of bitumen is decreased should not became brittle at lower
temperatures which should leads to reduce in deformation and distresses in pavement.
After comparing the test results of modified and unmodified bitumen it was observed that
the stability and flow value of modified bitumen is more as compared to unmodified bitumen.

REFERENCES
[1] ( ASTM: D 6927 – 15 ) Test method for resistance of plastic flow of bituminous mixture
using marshal apparatus.
[2] ( IRC SP 53-2002) Guidelines for the use of polymer and rubber modified bitumen in
road construction.
[3] Kang Y, Song M, Pu L and Liu T 2015 Rheological behaviours of epoxy asphalt binder in
comparison of base asphalt binder and SBS modified asphalt binder Construction and
Building Materials 76 pp 343-50
[4] Lu Q and Bors J 2015 Alternate uses of epoxy asphalt on bridge decks and roadways
Construction and Building Materials 78 pp 18-25
[5] R. Vasudevan2007, Guidelines for the Use of Plastic Waste in Rural Roads Construction
TEC, Madurai, and CRRI, New Delhi. National Rural Roads Development, Agency
Ministry of Rural Development
[6] Valerii Vyrozhemskyi et al 2017 Epoxy asphalt concrete is a perspective material for the
construction of roads IOP Conf. Ser.: Mater. Sci. Eng. 236 012022
[7] Yu J, Cong P and Wu S 2009 Laboratory Investigation of the Properties of Asphalt
Modified with Epoxy Resin Journal of Applied Polymer Science 113 pp 3557-63
[8] Zhang Junjuan and Cao Sheng 2015 Application of modified epoxy resin concrete in
bridge expansion joints. Shanxi Architecture 41(27) pp 168-170
[9] Zhong Gengzi 2017 Application of waterborne epoxy resin modified emulsified asphalt
in highway maintenance [J]. East China Highway 5 pp 61-63

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