Performance evaluation and preventive measures for aging of different bitumens

The aging performance of bitumen and its preventive measures have attracted more and more attentions all over the world. In this paper, three different bitumens (denoted as A, B and C) were exposed to thermal and ultraviolet (UV) aging at different UV intensities. The physical parameters of bitumens were compared for the selection of bitumen with inferior aging properties. To improve the aging resistance of the selected bitumen, various anti-aging additives were used to modify the bitumen via melt blending. The modified bitumen with excellent aging resistance was obtained through physical properties evaluation and Fourier transform infrared analysis. Results indicate that bitumen A exhibits the best thermal and UV aging resistance, then the bitumen B, and the bitumen C shows the worst thermal and UV aging resistance. Among the anti-aging additives used, antioxidant Irganox1010 shows the best ability to resist both the thermal and UV aging of the selected bitumen C. The selected bitumen C with excellent aging resistance can be prepared with the addition of the Irganox1010 at a proper content of 0.4–0.6%.