Performance Evaluation of Warm-Mix Agents on Crumb Rubber-Modified Asphalt

To achieve warm-mix production of crumb rubber-modified asphalt (CRA), an organic warm-mix agent, a surfactant-based warm-mix agent, and a composite warm-mix agent were employed to prepare warm-mix CRA. The effects of warm-mix agents on the physical properties of CRA were evaluated using the penetration test, softening point test, viscosity test, ductility test, and elastic recovery test. The effects of warm-mix agents on the high- and low-temperature rheological properties were investigated through dynamic shear rheometer (DSR), multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR), and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests. Moreover, the viscosity-temperature characteristics and the VOC emissions of different warm-mix CRAs were explored. The results show that Sasobit, an organic warm-mix agent, increases the elastic fraction and stiffness of CRA, which enhances its high-temperature resistance to permanent deformation but compromises its low-temperature cracking resistance. UWM, a surfactant-based warm-mix agent, elevates the viscous fraction and flexibility of CRA, which improves its low-temperature cracking resistance but weakens its high-temperature rutting resistance. The composite warm-mix agent, consisting of 2 wt.% Sasobit and 5 wt.% UWM, can balance the stiffness and flexibility of CRA, endowing CRA with satisfactory pavement performance. All three warm-mix agents effectively reduce the viscosity, mixing temperature, and VOC emissions of CRA. The composite warm-mix agent reduces the VOC emissions of CRA by 53.0%, exhibiting the most pronounced reduction.