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Study on Performance and Aging Mechanism of Rubber-Modified Asphalt Under Variable-Intensity UV Aging
Qian Liu1,2, Fujin Hou3, Dongdong Ge1,2
1National Engineering Research Center of Highway Maintenance Technology, Changsha University of Science & Technology, Changsha 410114, China.
Materials (Basel, Switzerland)
|July 12, 2025
Summary
This study shows crumb rubber enhances Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA) resistance to UV aging. Thinner RMA films degrade faster under prolonged UV exposure, highlighting the importance of film thickness and aging duration for material durability.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Civil Engineering
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Conventional UV aging simulations lack realism due to constant intensity.
- The combined effects of aging duration and film thickness on Rubber-Modified Asphalt (RMA) performance are not well understood.
- Understanding these factors is crucial for predicting and improving the durability of asphalt materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the performance and aging mechanisms of RMA under variable-intensity UV radiation.
- To analyze the influence of aging duration and asphalt film thickness on RMA properties.
- To provide theoretical support for optimizing the anti-aging performance of RMA.
Main Methods:
- Accelerated aging experiments using variable-intensity UV radiation.
- Rheological tests to analyze material performance.
- Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to reveal UV aging mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Crumb rubber incorporation improved RMA's resistance to UV aging, enhancing high-temperature performance, fatigue life, and low-temperature cracking resistance.
- Thinner RMA films (e.g., 1 mm) showed significantly greater degradation and reduced performance compared to thicker films (e.g., 2 mm) under prolonged UV exposure.
- FTIR analysis indicated photo-oxidative aging primarily affected carbonyl and sulfoxide groups, while SEM revealed increased surface oxidation and cracking in thinner films.
Conclusions:
- RMA exhibits enhanced UV aging resistance due to crumb rubber, which absorbs UV radiation and improves material stability.
- Film thickness is a critical factor, with thinner films being more susceptible to degradation under prolonged UV exposure.
- The study provides valuable insights into RMA aging mechanisms, supporting the optimization of asphalt material durability against UV radiation.
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