Development of performance grade specification for polymer modified bitumen in sea region

Abstract

With the increase of traffic volume and traffic loads, polymer modified bitumen has been widely used in Southeast Asia (SEA) region under Superpave Performance grading specification. Because of the tropical climatic in the SEAregion no freezing air temperature, the used PG grade specification in the SEA region only included the high temperature grade requirement without the low temperature grade. Consequently, only the DSR (Dynamic Shear Rheometer) and RTFO (Rolling Thin Film Oven) are used bymost of the local PMB producers and test companies without BBR (Bending Beam Rheometer) and PAV (Pressure Aging Vessel). This paper reviews the development of Superpave Performance Grading system in the US and its application. The constraints and limitations of the existing Performance Grading system used in SEA region have been investigated and are explained. Combined with the development of latest research for polymer modified bitumen and its test method, a PG-based polymer modified bitumen specification is proposed at the end of this paper, which is more suitable for the climatic conditions and existing equipment setups in the SEA region.