Development of a method for producing a modified bitumen-polymer binder

Objective: to develop a technological scheme that uses an efficient modifier to produce a bitumen-polymer mixture. This research is motivated by the lack of petroleum bitumen available domestically, poor resilience of available bitumen to Russia’s climate, and limited access to foreign production equipment, all of which necessitate new technologies for the production of bituminous binders. Polymer modification is regarded as one of the most promising alternatives to traditional oil oxidation techniques that do not consistently produce bitumen with the necessary property set. Methods: optical microscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to study the structure and properties of the binder. In addition to standard bitumen testing protocols, rheological and thermal mechanical analyses were employed to assess the binder’s performance. Results: the research employed a mixed elastomeric thermoplastic as a bitumen modifier. It has been investigated how polymer-dissolving time affects variables including dispersion, temperature, and pre-dissolved polymer concentration in the plasticizer (fuel oil). Based on these parameters, a process flow diagram specifying the required equipment has been developed. Practical significance: a laboratory setup validates the effectiveness of the bitumen modifier when implemented in accordance with the proposed process diagram. For industrial production of bitumen-polymer, the modified binder should be complemented with a mineral filler as an additive, such as kaolin, dolomite flour, or talc. This technique allows for increased operational stability and reduced costs.