The gray relation entropy research between the stability of emulsified asphalt and chemical components of asphalt

The basic properties, composition, and structure of four base bitumens: A1, A2, A3, and A4 were analysed. The stability of emulsified asphalt was investigated by means of residue content difference tests. The relationships between the stability of emulsified asphalt and the chemical compositions of the chosen bitumen blends were studied by means of gray correlation entropy method using the MATLAB platform. Furthermore, the relationship between the stability of emulsified asphalt and the chemical composition of the bitumen were also discussed. It was shown that: The contents of resin and asphaltene are important factors in the composition of four-polar fractions in asphalt which affect stability of emulsified asphalt. The higher the resin and asphaltene contents, the better the stability of emulsified asphalt. In the elemental composition of asphalt the heteroatom content is an important factor influencing the stability of emulsified asphalt. Generally higher heteroatom content gives better stability, however, the basic properties and average structural unit parameters of asphalt cannot be used to characterize the stability of emulsified asphalt since they show no obvious correlation.