Assessment of asphalt binder and mixes modified with Zycotherm and Sulphur. (2022) - Singh, Maninder
Abstract: In the present study, bituminous concrete mixes were prepared by adding Zycotherm as modifier and Sulphur as an extender. The physical properties of bitumen blended with Zycotherm and Sulphur were evaluated. For preparing the hot mix asphalt specimens, bitumen was modified with 0.05%, 0.1% and 0.15% of Zycotherm. Sulphur was used as an extender and its percentage was fixed at 35%. Comparison was made between the optimum binder content (OBC) of mixes prepared with neat and modified bitumen prepared using the Marshall mix design. For this purpose, a total of 8 type of asphalt mixtures were made. The OBC was determined and other parameters such as Marshall stability, flow value, voids filled with bitumen (VFB), voids in mineral aggregates (VMA) and unit weights were evaluated at this binder content. Based on the above experimentation and testing, it was concluded that the aggregates and bitumen (virgin and modified) results satisfy the standard requirements and the results are within the specified limits. In terms of physical properties, bitumen containing Sulphur results in changes up to large extent compared to Zycotherm modified bitumen. Addition of Zycotherm results in minor change in the physical properties of bitumen but the incorporation of 0.1% Zycotherm with 35% Sulphur, indicates the utmost Marshall stability and Marshall quotient value at the optimum binder content of 5.43 %.