PMA POLYMER MODIFIED ASPHALT

Paolo Visconti Iterchimica srl

PMA Polymer Modified Asphalt has been used from a long time to

provide higer performances to bituminous mixes

Actually two possibilities are available to

manufacture PMA: • PmB Polymer modified Bitumen A pre-blend of bitumen and polymer ITERFLEX system • Direct hot mix modification SUPERPLAST system • Through addition of polymers into the plant pug mill

ITERCHIMICA, thanks to its long term experience and its technical staff, is available to provide the necessary support to guide the

customers to chose the best solution in accordance with the

specifications

Roads are subjected to several distresses; mostly due to heavy traffic, poor binders properties, weathering and bad mix designs. This is the reason why the need to improve pavement properties

How can roads performances be

improved?

Technological features

By incrising the physical caractherisics

of the asphalt mixes

Technological features

What is a special pavement made of?

ITERFLEX SYSTEM

coarse aggregate

SBS polymer

bitumen

adhesion promoter

filler

PmB Polymer modified

Bitumen

SUPERPLAST SYSTEM

coarse aggregate

Superplast polymer

bitumen

Adhesion

promoter

filler

Which are the functions of polymers into a hot

mix?

physical modification

PMA applications

The main applications for PMA are: •Thin layer asphalt of various thicknesses •SMA (Stone Mastic Asphalt) •Porous asphalt (open structure) to improve the comfort for drivers and population, noise reduction of 2 to 3 dB (A) between 250 and 500 Hz and 5 to 9 dB (A) between 800 and 5000 Hz can be achieved •Rut and crack resistant top layers for durable low maintenance pavements •SAM (Stress Absorbing Membranes) and SAMI (Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer) •Airport runway surfacing for high performance and cost-effective maintenance •Sealant for bridges and viaducts, providing the necessary adhesion elasticity to absorb movement •Tack coat layers providing excellent adhesive and cohesive properties

Polymers

Which technology has to be preferred, between Pmb (Iterflex System) and direct addition (Superplast System), then? In accordance to the specifications performance tests, both of the technologies can fulfil the requirements. An appropriate laboratory study will easily indicate which solution can be the most appropriate in each different mix design case, showing the client all advantages and disadvantages of the application.

Polymers Every polymer type gives bitumen special chemical and physical properties. Specifications or the performance requirements of the asphalt mixes dictate which polymer should be used. Polymers can be added to bitumen ‘directly’, using special equipment (PmB plants) that ensures their perfect blending in the bitumen; or ‘indirectly’ by the addition into the mixer of the hot mix plant trough special dosing devices Polymers are devided in: ELASTOMER: mostly •SBS (styrene butadiene styrene) PLASTOMER: •EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) •LDPE (low density polyethylene)

’.

Polymers

More precisely, the purpose of using polymers is improving the following properties:

RING AND BALL SOFTENING POINT FRAASS BREAKING POINT

DUCTILITY ELASTIC RECOVERY

VISCOSITY LESS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO THE TEMPERATURE

LOWER PENETRATION

ITERFLEX System

BITUMEN MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

Iterflex

ITERFLEX BITUMEN MODIFICATION

TECHNOLOGY Iterflex is a combination of two different products, a thermoplastic polymer Iterprene SBS and a bitumen stabilizer Iterfort PH 20, which guarantees the best performances of the PMB, acting on the inversion of phase and on the stability of the modified bitumen in the time. Since its introduction, ITERFLEX has proved its value in practice in terms of: Performance Durability Cost effectiveness

Iterflex

Iterflex

Values ASTM Unit Typical Value

Ring & Ball, softening temperature D 36-76 °C > 85

Fraass breaking temperature IP 80/53 °C < -15 Elastic recovery En 13398 % > 90 Viscosity at 135 °C D 2170-81 Pa.s > 1.5 Penetration at 25°C D 5-75 0.1

mm >= 50

B 70/100 pen plus 5% of Iterprene SBS and cross linking agent Iterfort PH20

Polymers

Or according to the PG grade specifications issued by SHRP program:

R&B versus SBS dosage

Pen. versus SBS dosage

The following diagrams are showing the changes of the physic characteristics of a bitumen B 70/100 related to the increase of the SBS content

ITERFLEX – Production process

ITERFLEX production requires a special plant with proper mill unit. An High shear mixer grinds the polymer while immersed in the bitumen. The polymer is mixed into the bitumen and passed through the high shear mixer, to cut the particles into small pieces. The size of the pieces is influenced by the gap width between the stator and the rotor

High Shear mixer

The addition of the cross-linking agent, ITERFORT PH20, ENSURES a perfect inversion of

phase, guaranteeing stability to the PmB:

ITERFLEX – Production process

High Shear mixer PmB plant

ITERFLEX – Lab tests

Asphalt Binders Bending Beam Rheometer Dynamic Shear Rheometer Pressure Aging Vessel Flash Point Penetration Ductility Softening Point Thin-Film Oven Test Kinematic Viscosity Capillary Viscosity Specific Gravity Rotational Viscosity Rolling Thin Film Oven Test Hot Mix Asphalt Concrete Gyratory Compaction Rotovapor Recovery Percent Air Voids Mechanical Analysis of Extracted Aggregate Quantitative Extraction Bulk Specific Gravity of SSD Mix Abson Recovery Maximum Theoretical Specific Gravity Marshall Stability and Flow Bulk Specific Gravity of Paraffin Coated Specimens Moisture Sensitivity

AASHTO/ASTM TP1 TP5 PP1 T48/D92 T49/D5 T51/D113 T53/D36 T179/D1754 T201/D2170 T202/D2171 T228/D70 TP48/D4402 T240/D2872 TP4 D5404 T269/D3203 T30/D5444 T164/D2172 T166/D2726 T170/D1856 T209/D2041 T245/D1559 T275/D1188 T283/D4867

SUPERPLAST

System

ASPHALT MIX MODIFICATION TECHNOLOGY

SUPERPLAST

How the modification occurs into the pug mill with the addition of

SUPERPLAST?

• Addition of the aggregate @ 170-175°C • The dosing device is injecting the Superplast

at the same time as aggregates enter the mixer • No extra mixing time is required! • Lay down and mixture compaction should be

executed in accordance with the same process and with the same equipments used in the traditional mixes

•SUPERPLAST will start melting @ 150°C (melting point) and get dispersed into the mixture thanks to pug mill paddles •Bitumen acts as dispersand fluid and helps to homegenize the polymer into the mix

Superplast into the bitumen

Microscope photo

Superplast bitumen modification can be easily checked performing laboratory test on the binder residue, such as: •Softening point •Penetration •Viscosity •Fraass point

Superplast certifications

Superplast certifications

Superplast certifications

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway Project Wearing Course SMA 16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway Project Wearing Course SMA 16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway

Project Wearing Course SMA

16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway Project Wearing Course SMA 16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway

Project Wearing Course SMA

16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway Project Wearing Course SMA 16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway

Project Wearing Course SMA

16

BECHTEL ENKA GP Kosovo Motorway Project Wearing Course SMA 16

MAPA Construction Trading & Industry Co.

Libya Branch Costal Road Rasjedir-Sabrata

Libya Wearing Course

MAPA Construction Trading & Industry Co.

Libya Branch Costal Road Rasjedir-Sabrata

Libya Wearing Course

MAPA Construction Trading & Industry Co.

Libya Branch Costal Road Rasjedir-Sabrata

Libya Wearing Course

MAPA Construction Trading & Industry Co.

Libya Branch Costal Road Rasjedir-Sabrata

Libya Wearing Course

MAPA Construction Trading & Industry Co.

Libya Branch Costal Road Rasjedir-

Sabrata Libya Wearing Course

ASTALDI Spa Rehabilitation DN 79

ARAD-ORADEA - Romania Wearing Course MASF 16m

ASTALDI Spa Rehabilitation DN 79

ARAD-ORADEA - Romania Wearing Course MASF 16m

ASTALDI Spa Rehabilitation DN 79

ARAD-ORADEA - Romania

Wearing Course MASF 16m

TODINI Costruzioni Generali Spa Kiev-Chop Highway 2009 project Job Mix Formula SMA-15 Superplast: 5% on bitumen Fiber C-Plus: 0,3% on mixture Iterlene In/400S: 0,3% on bitumen

Astaldi Giugno 2005

ASTALDI-EL SALVADOR Summer 2005

150.000 m2

REPORT ON THE USE OF PMB FOR THE THE

PERFORMANCES IMPROVEMENT OFA WEARING COURSE, COMPARED WITH A TRADIDIONAL APPLICATION

Astaldi Giugno 2005

Mixes Marshall

Stability Kg Flow mm

Stability/flow Kgf/mm

Air Voids %

70/100 Neat bitumen

1780 3,69 490 8,26

6% of Superplast 2021 3,17 636 8,27

5% of Superplast 1903 3,36 570 8,89

5% of Iterprene SBS 1965 2,83 700 8,85

SUPERPLAST References Until 2011, 19million m2 have been

successfully applied worldwide

Thank you!