ASSIGNMENT 1 MKA1103

ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIAL

Find the type of modifier and example of additive of each modifier that being used to modify
bitumen.
INTRODUCTION
Bitumen is a black or dark brown non-crystalline solid or viscous material, composed
principally of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, having adhesive properties, derived from
petroleum either by natural or refinery processes and substantially soluble in carbon disulphide.
Refer to Ali Akhber Yousefi (2002), bitumen in pure form is not suitable for modern roads and
present traffic, therefore forced engineers to modify bitumen to improve its performance during
service life.
The modified binder are more stable under heavy loads, braking and accelerating forces
and shows increased resistance to permanent deformation in hot weather. It resists fatigue loads
and having better adhesion between aggregates and binders.

TYPE OF BITUMEN MODIFIER AND ADDITIVE

There are 3 type of bitumen modifier, namely :
(1) physical modification
(2) chemical modification
(3) other type modification
The table below showed the type of modifier and example of additive that being used to modify
the bitumen.

ASSIGNMENT 1 MKA1103
ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIAL

Table 1: The type of physical modifier and additive used in the material

TYPE OF MODIFIER
(1) Thermoplastic Elastomers

TYPE OF ADDITIVE
Styrene butadiene styrene (SBS)
Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR)
Styrene isoprene styrene (SIS)
Styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS)
Ethylene propylene diene
terpolymer (EPDM)
Isobutene isoprene copolymer
(IIR)
Natural rubber
Crumb tyre rubber
Polybutadine (PBD)
Polyisoprene

(2) Thermoplastic Polymer

Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA)

Ethylene methyl acrylate (EMA)
Ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA)
Atactic polypropylene (APP)
Polyethylene (PE)
Polypropylene (PP)
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Polystyrene (PS)

(3) Thermosetting Polymers

Epoxy Resin
Polyurethane Resin
Acrylic Resin
Phenolic resin

Source: Read, J and Whiteoak, D (2003)

ASSIGNMENT 1 MKA1103
ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIAL

Among many different polymers used in bitumen modification such as thermoplastics,

thermosets, thermoplastic elastomers, the rubbers seems to be more attractive. Although
thermoplastic elastomers such as styrene-butadiene-styrene triblock copolymer
(SBS) or its hydrogenated forms and plastomers such as ethylene-vinylacetate copolymer (EVA)
are good bitumen modifiers, rubbers are preferred due to their lower prices. In fact, bitumen is
supposed to keep its physical and rheological properties constant at different service
temperatures and loading conditions and transforms itself to a low viscosity Newtonian fluid at
mixing temperature (165oC). This type of bitumen is called ideal bitumen. Constant
rheological properties in a wide range of temperatures correspond to rubbery behaviour. It is
concluded that the rubbers should be able to modify bitumen properties very well. Therefore,
many types of rubbers were introduced in bitumen (PBR, SBR and its latex, ground tire rubber
etc.)
Chemical modification used the additive such as organo- metallic compounds, sulphur
and lignin. It used the chemical agent as additive to modify the characteristic of pure bitumen.
Due to vary complex structure of bitumen, chemical modification of bitumen have not been
commercialized as physical modification.
Table 2: Type of additive adding to chemical modifier
TYPE OF MODIFIER
Chemical Modifiers

TYPE OF ADDITIVE
Organo-metallic compounds

Sulphur

Lignin

Source: Read, J and Whiteoak, D (2003)

Meanwhile, the other type of modifier and its additive listed as below:
TYPE OF MODIFIER
Fiber

TYPE OF ADDITIVE
Cellulose

Alumino-magnesium silicate

ASSIGNMENT 1 MKA1103
ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIAL

Glass fiber

Asbestos

Polyester

Polypropylene

Adhesion improvers

Organic amines

Antioxidants

Amides
Amines

Phenols

Organo-zinc/organo-lead compounds
Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA)

Gilsonite

Rock asphalt
Carbon black

Hydrated lime

Lime

Fly ash
Sulphur

Natural asphalts

Fillers

Extender
Sources: Technical Guideline (2007)
CONCLUSION

As conclusion, each modifier has their own additives as modifier agent. There are many
modifier materials that can be used to mix with bitumen to improve their performance as paving
material. Rubbers are preferred as bitumen modifier due to their lower prices and the availability.
Nevertheless, the selection of modifier is depending on the user or company.

REFERRENCES
[1] Ali Akhber Yousefi (2002) Rubber Modified Bitumens. Iranian Polymer Journal, 11 (5).

ASSIGNMENT 1 MKA1103
ADVANCED PAVEMENT MATERIAL

[2] Read, J and Whiteoak, D (2003). Shell Bitumen Handbook. 5th. Ed. London.
[3] Asphalt Academy (2007) Technical Guideline: The Use of Modified Binders in Road
Construction. Pretoria. Asphalt Academy.