A crack resistant layer with good binder fracture energy properties and method of selecting same

Abstract

A method of selecting a crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, the method comprising the steps of: selecting at least one bituminous binder to examine, where the bituminous binder comprises bitumen and one or more polymers, where the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene, preferably at least 3.0%. more preferably at least 3.5%, and most preferably 4.0%; forming at least one bituminous mixture comprising the bituminous binder and an aggregate; testing each bituminous binder for binder fracture energy properties; and selecting a bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer. The method may further comprise the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for fatigue properties and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on fatigue properties and binder fracture energy properties, and/or testing the bituminous mixture for fracture energy and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on mixture fracture energy properties and bituminous binder fracture energy properties.

1 . A method of selecting a crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, the method comprising the steps of:
 selecting at least one bituminous binder to examine, where the bituminous binder comprises bitumen and one or more polymers, where the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene;   forming at least one bituminous mixture comprising the bituminous binder and an aggregate;   testing each bituminous binder for binder fracture energy properties; and   selecting a bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  where at least 3.0% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  where at least 3.5% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  where at least 4.0% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  where the testing of the bituminous binder for fracture energy comprises testing a single edge notch beam tested at 0.1 mm/sec at −30° C., calculated by ASTM D 5045-99 where the dimensions of the single edge notched beam are B=6.0 mm, W=9.5 mm, A=4.9 mm, and L=44.0 mm where the bituminous binder was RTFO aged per AASHTO T-240, and the samples were conditioned at test temperature for 18 to 20 hours before testing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  where the fracture energy test results in a bituminous binder fracture energy of greater than 40 J/m 2    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  where the fracture energy test results in a bituminous binder fracture energy of greater than 50 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  where the fracture energy test results in a bituminous binder fracture energy of greater than 60 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for fatigue properties and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on fatigue properties and fracture energy properties. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  where the testing of the bituminous mixture for fatigue properties comprises subjecting each bituminous mixture to a flexural beam fatigue test performed at 2,000 microstrains, 10 Hz, and 15° C. per ASTM D 7460-08. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  where the flexural beam fatigue test results in at least 5,000 cycles to failure. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  where the flexural beam fatigue test results in at least 10,000 cycles to failure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 10  where the flexural beam fatigue test results in at least 15,000 cycles to failure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for fracture energy and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on mixture fracture energy properties and bituminous binder fracture energy properties. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  where the testing of each bituminous mixture for fracture energy comprises subjecting the bituminous mixture to a Semi-Circular Bend Test or a Disc Compact Tension Test. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  where the fracture energy test is the Disc Compact Tension Test and is performed at a temperature of −10° C. and a rate of loading of 1.0 mm/min, in accordance with ASTM D 7313-07. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 600 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 700 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 800 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the steps of testing the bituminous mixture for permeability and selecting the bituminous binder for use in the crack resistant layer based on binder fracture energy properties and permeability. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20  where the bituminous mixture is tested for permeability in accordance with ASTM D 3637. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  where the permeability is greater than 8 cm 2 . 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 1  where the bituminous mixture has a Hveem stability of greater than 21 per ASTM D 1560. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1  where the bituminous mixture has greater than 1% air voids. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1  where the bituminous binder further comprises additives. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  where the additives comprise cross-linking agents, accelerators, extenders, fluxing agents, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1  where the aggregate comprises a hard and inflexible mineral aggregate, a hard and inflexible man-made aggregate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1  where the bituminous mixture further comprises recycled materials. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 31  where the recycled materials are reclaimed asphalt pavement, glass, ground rubber tires, ceramics, metals, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         30 . A crack resistant layer to be applied to an existing surface, where the layer comprises:
 an aggregate; and   a bituminous binder, wherein the bituminous binder is comprised of bitumen and one or more polymers, where the one or more polymers include a sufficient amount of conjugated diene such that at least 2.5% of the bituminous binder's weight comprises conjugated diene;   
       where the bituminous binder and the aggregate are mixed and form a bituminous mixture; and wherein the binder exhibits desirable fracture energy properties when subjected to testing for such fracture energy properties. 
     
     
         31 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where at least 3.0% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         32 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where at least 3.5% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         33 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where at least 4.0% of the weight of the bituminous binder comprises conjugated diene. 
     
     
         34 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous binder has desirable fracture energy properties if a single edge notch beam is tested at 0.1 mm/sec. at −30° C., calculated by ASTM D 5045-99 where the dimensions of the single edge notched beam are B=6.0 mm, W=9.5 mm, A=4.9 mm, and L=44.0 mm, where the bituminous binder was RTFO aged per AASHTO T-240, and the samples were conditioned at test temperature for 18 to 20 hours before testing and results in a fracture energy of greater than 40 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         35 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous binder has desirable fracture energy properties if a single edge notch beam is tested at 0.1 mm/sec. at −30° C., calculated by ASTM D 5045-99 where the dimensions of the single edge notched beam are B=6.0 mm, W=9.5 mm, A=4.9 mm, and L=44.0 mm, where the bituminous binder was RTFO aged per AASHTO T-240, and the samples were conditioned at test temperature for 18 to 20 hours before testing and results in a fracture energy of greater than 50 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         36 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous binder has desirable fracture energy properties if a single edge notch beam is tested at 0.1 mm/sec. at −30° C., calculated by ASTM D 5045-99 where the dimensions of the single edge notched beam are B=6.0 mm, W=9.5 mm, A=4.9 mm, and L=44.0 mm, where the bituminous binder was RTFO aged per AASHTO T-240, and the samples were conditioned at test temperature for 18 to 20 hours before testing and results in a fracture energy of greater than 60 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         37 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the layer exhibits beam fatigue properties of at least 5,000 cycles to failure when subjected to a flexural beam fatigue test at 2000 microstrains at 10 Hz when tested 15° C. per ASTM D 7460-08. 
     
     
         38 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the layer exhibits beam fatigue properties of at least 10,000 cycles to failure when subjected to a flexural beam fatigue test at 2000 microstrain at 10 Hz when tested 15° C. per ASTM D 7460-08. 
     
     
         39 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the layer exhibits beam fatigue properties of at least 15,000 cycles to failure when subjected to a flexural beam fatigue test at 2000 microstrains at 10 Hz when tested 15° C. per ASTM D 7460-08. 
     
     
         40 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous mixture is tested for fracture energy properties with a Semi-Circular Bend Test or a Disc Compact Tension Test. 
     
     
         41 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 40  where the fracture energy test is performed at a temperature of −10° C. and a rate of loading of 1.0 mm/min., in accordance with ASTM D 7313-07. 
     
     
         42 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 41  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 600 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         43 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 41  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 700 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         44 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 41  where the fracture energy test results in a mixture fracture energy of greater than 800 J/m 2 . 
     
     
         45 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous mixture's permeability is greater than 8 cm 2  when tested in accordance with ASTM D 3637. 
     
     
         46 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous mixture has a Hveen stability of greater than 21 per ASTM D 1560. 
     
     
         47 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the bituminous mixture has greater than 1% air voids. 
     
     
         48 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  further comprising additives. 
     
     
         49 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 48  where the additives comprise cross-linking agents, accelerators, extenders, fluxing agents, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the aggregate comprises a hard and inflexible mineral aggregate, a hard and inflexible man-made aggregate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         51 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 30  where the mixture further comprises recycled materials. 
     
     
         52 . The crack resistant layer of  claim 51  where the recycled materials are reclaimed asphalt pavement, glass, ground rubber tires, ceramics, metals, or mixtures thereof.