Microstructure And Performance Of Epoxy Asphalt Binders Modified By Core-Shell Rubbers Containing Different Core Polymers

Core-shell rubber (CSR) is a good candidate for toughening epoxy asphalt binders. However, the knowledge of the effect of the core polymer on the performance of CSR modified hot-mix epoxy asphalt binder (HEAB) is not completed and systematic yet. In this paper, CSR modified HEABs were prepared by the incorporation of 2 wt% CSR particles with different core polymers, which were in turn subjected to viscous measurements, confocal microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, dynamic mechanical analysis and tensile tests. The results revealed that the viscosity of CSR with styrene-butadiene copolymer (SB) core (CSRSB) modified HEAB is higher than that of CSR with polybutadiene (PB) core (CSRPB) modified HEAB during curing. The shell destruction of CSR particles resulted in the swelling of the core polymers and dispersion of swollen core polymer particles in the epoxy phase in the micron scale along with asphalt particles. The phase separation of CSRPB modified HEAB occurred in the spinodal decomposition mode, which was different from the nucleation and growth mechanism of the neat and CSRSB modified HEABs. The area fraction of swollen PB particles in the CSR modified HEAB was greater than that of swollen SB particles. The core polymer had a negligible effect on the thermal stability of CSR modified HEABs. The glass transition temperatures of epoxy and asphalt, damping ability and mechanical properties of the neat HEAB were increased with the addition of CSR particles. Especially, CSRPB modified HEAB had higher tensile strength and toughness than CSRSB modified HEAB. With 2 wt% CSRPB particles being adding, the tensile strength, elongation at break and toughness of the neat HEAB were increased by 53%, 42% and 110%, respectively.