Compatibility of Polymer and Plasticizer—As a Key Factor in the Formation of Degradation-Resistant Bituminous Binder

The work is focused on assessing the effect of compatibility of polymer and various plasticizers on the properties and stability over time of the final product—polymer modified bitumen (PMB). To obtain the regularities of the influence of plasticizers on the stability of PMB at the initial stage of the research, the basic set of characteristics of the initial materials (bitumen and plasticizer) was determined. Control of structure formation of investigated binders was carried out by varying the concentration of plasticizer, which was used as: fuel oil M 200, oil I-50, “Uniplast”, the extract of selective oil purification (SPE), “Katgol”. For plasticizing additives such characteristics as: sample mass loss (volatility) in the range of technological temperatures of PMB preparation, aniline point indicator were investigated, as well as the group composition of plasticizing components was evaluated. In the course of the experiment the dynamics of changes of indicators of standard properties of modified binders was revealed, as well as their thermal stability (tendency to delamination and loss of weight during thermotreatment) due to the composition of plasticizer and its compatibility with the polymer used. It is suggested to investigate compatibility of components: plasticizer and polymer, at the preparatory stage, before preparation of laboratory PMB compositions. Recommendations on the use of plasticizers for obtaining effective compositions of polymer-bitumen binders have been developed. The contribution of polymer-plasticizer system compatibility on PMB resistance to destructive stratification and aging processes was studied. The importance of the raised topics for the industry is caused by the lack of a unified regulatory framework governing the requirements for plasticizers to modify bituminous binders, including the preparation of PMB. The conducted studies show that the compatibility of polymer and plasticizer has a key impact on the quality indicators of modified bituminous binders, but this aspect for the systems under consideration at the present time is not properly studied.