Impact of Recycled Materials and Recycling Agents on Asphalt Binder Oxidative Aging Predictions

Abstract

The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of selected recycling agents (RAs) and recycled materials on the development of cracking potential with respect to oxidative aging. Given the complex nature of varying base asphalt binders, recycled materials, whether recycled asphalt pavement (RAP), reclaimed asphalt shingles (RAS), or both, and the complexity of their combined interactions with recycling agents, standard evaluation protocols for binder grading and evaluation may be insufficient. The binder blend aging predictions or oxidation modeling evaluation was introduced as a means to evaluate the combined influence of both binder oxidation kinetics and resulting rheological changes on the measured cracking potential of the various binder blends—that is, Glover–Rowe (G-R) parameter—driven by temperature estimation modeling over simulated in-service durations at example geographic locations. This evaluation has demonstrated the importance of adequate characterization of the specific materials being used in conjunction with selection of the correct dose of the appropriate recycling agent to ensure sufficient resistance to cracking and embrittlement of proposed material combinations. The combined influence of all the interested components did not always add up to the sum of the individual parts, nor are the measured interactions consistent with increased levels of oxidation. Therefore, the prevailing conclusion of the study as a whole indicated that material-specific evaluations are needed to identify the complex interactions taking place within the material combinations of interest, but also multiple levels of aging at appropriate intervals may be necessary for comprehensive characterization.