Evaluation of Aging Processes in Binders Stabilised from Cationic Bituminous Emulsion

The application of cold mix recycling technology in the construction of road subbase layers by using bitumen stabilised materials (BSMs) is a cost-effective and sustainable solution, as it allows to substitute raw material with a significant amount of recycled materials: both RAP and construction demolition waste (CDW). The use of recycled materials in road construction should not negatively affect the durability of a pavement structure. Consequently, further reduction of aging processes is necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the aging processes of binders stabilised from cationic bituminous emulsions by comparing their basic and rheological properties with those of binders derived from laboratory aging simulation (RTFO). RTFO tests simulating short-time aging were applied to original bitumen binders used in the process of bituminous emulsion production both modified and unmodified. Evaluation of the results of the research was carried out on the basis of aging indexes and rheological properties of the binders in a wide temperature range. The research has shown that the technological processes of bitumen emulsion production cause the reduction of the aging processes of the bitumen binder compared to the RTFO test which simulated the hot process. Therefore, the use of BSMs based on the cationic bitumen emulsion not only preserves the environment due to the protection of natural resources, but also leads to a measurable decrease in the aging process in contrast to hot mix asphalt (HMA) production.