Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer modified epoxy asphalt binders: Phase separation evolution and mechanical properties. (15th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Ya; Zhang, Jing; Chen, Ru; Cai, Jun; Xi, Zhonghua; Xie, Hongfeng
• Is Part Of: Construction & building materials. Volume 137(2017)
• Page Start: 55
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2017-04-15
• Subjects: Epoxy asphalt -- Polymer modified asphalt -- Polymer blends -- Morphology -- Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) -- Steel deck bridge -- Image-Pro Plus -- Laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM); Building materials -- Periodicals; 624.18
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2017.01.081
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-0618

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: EVA modified epoxy asphalt binders have been developed. Morphology evolution of EVA modified epoxy asphalt has been investigated. Epoxy resin is a continuous phase and EVA-modified asphalt is a disperse phase in EA/EVA blends. The addition of EVA improves both thermal stability and mechanical properties of the neat EA. Abstract: As one of polymer modified asphalts (PMAs), epoxy asphalt (EA) has been extensively used in the pavement of steel bridge deck due to its excellent performances. Ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) is one of most used polymer modifiers in PMAs. EA/EVA blends were prepared with the addition of EVA in asphalts. The effects of EVA on the morphology evolution of EA were investigated by laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the rotational viscosity, thermal stability and mechanical properties of EA/EVA blends were studied. LSCM observed that epoxy resin was the continuous phase and EVA-asphalt was the disperse phase in EA/EVA blends. The presence of epoxy crosslinking network destroyed the physical interaction between EVA and asphalts. Both LSCM and SEM observations found that smaller and well-distributed EVA-asphalt particles formed in EA/EVA blends with lower EVA loadings. However, EVA-asphalt particles distributed inhomogeneously in the blends with higher EVA loadings. The addition of EVA increased the viscosity of the neat EA. Moreover, the presence of EVA improved both thermal stability and mechanical properties of the neat EA.