Asphalt binder ageing and experiences with various ageing methods from abroad are described in this thesis. The practical part deals with the RTFOT aging and with the influence of the duration of this test. The comparison of test results is conducted before and after the aging by values of needle penetration, elastic recovery, softening point and resilience tests are evaluated and compared.

Spherical agglomerates of benzoic acid crystals have been successfully prepared by drowning-out crystallization in three solvent partial miscible mixtures. Benzoic acid is dissolved in ethanol, bridging liquid is added and this mixture is fed to the agitated crystallizer containing water as the anti-solvent. Small crystals are produced by crystallization of the substance, and the crystals are agglomerated through the action of the bridging liquid. Different solvents: chloroform, toluene, heptane, pentane, cyclohexane, ethyl acetate and diethyl ether are chosen as bridging liquids, all being low soluble in water and showing good wettability for benzoic acid crystals. The influence of process conditions such as concentration of solute, agitation rate, feeding rate, amount of bridging liquid and temperature on the properties of benzoic acid spherical agglomerates, are investigated. Different sets of experiments were accomplished to track how the properties of the particles gradually change during the normal spherical crystallization experiment. Other sets of experiments were performed to examine the influence of agitation and process time for agglomeration. The product properties such as particle size distribution, morphology and mechanical strength have been evaluated. The mechanical strength of single agglomerates has been determined by compression in a materials testing machine, using a 10 N load cell. Compression characteristics for single agglomerates are compared with the data on bed compression. The present study shows that the bridging liquid has significant influence on the product properties, using diethyl ether and ethyl acetate no agglomerates are formed. Using any of the other five solvents (chloroform, toluene, heptane, pentane, and cyclohexane) spherical agglomerates are formed, as long as a sufficient amount of the bridging liquid is used. Using cyclohexane as bridging liquid at 5°C and toluene at 20°C the particles are larger compared to particles formed at other conditions. The highest particle fracture stress is obtained by using toluene as the bridging liquid at 5 and 20°C. Particle morphology depends on the bridging liquid used and the particles are completely spherical when toluene and pentane are used as bridging liquids. Different process parameters are found to have a significant influence on the physico-mechanical properties of the product. The range of operation for spherical agglomeration is relatively narrow and only at certain conditions spherical agglomerates are produced. With increasing amount of bridging liquid the particle size and strength increase and the morphology improves. Particle size decreases and the fracture force increases with increasing feeding rate, but the morphology remains unchanged. For all the solvents, the particle size and the fracture stress increase with decreasing temperature. For four of the solvents the morphology improves with decreasing temperature. For cyclohexane the result is the opposite, in that the particles are spherical at 20°C and irregular at 5°C. Spherical agglomerates of benzoic acid, both as single particles as well as in the form of a bed, have a high compressibility and low elastic recovery, properties that are favorable for direct tabletting. As the feed solution is supplied to the crystallizer the amount of benzoic acid that can crystallize actually does crystallize fairly rapidly. Hydrodynamics are responsible for bringing particles together for the agglomeration. Experiments reveal that during the gradual addition of the feed to the agitated aqueous solution, both particle size and particle number increases. It is clear from the experiments that not only further addition of feed solution leads to larger product particles but also continued agitation. Along the course of the process the properties of the particles change gradually but substantially. By continued agitation, the particle porosity decreases, density, strength gradually increases and also the spherical shape develops gradually. / QC 20110419

The subject of this diploma thesis is a research of bituminous binder modification by fast react-ing polymer SBS. The theoretical part covers an introduction to bituminous binders, their pro-duction, chemical and physical-mechanical properties. The identification of bituminous binders and their use in bituminous mixtures is briefly described. To conclude, current modification methods are described in detail and important modifiers are introduced. In the practical part, three applied tests (softening point, elastic recovery and penetration) are described in detail. The bituminous binders tested (20/30, 30/45, 70/100, PMB 25/55-55 and PMB 45/80-50) and the fast-reacting polymer SBS are introduced. Samples with two weight percentages of SBS, 7,5% and 10%, are produced. Two mixing times, 60 seconds and 600 seconds were used to mix the bituminous binder and SBS. In conclusion, the results are evaluated and commented. Further research suggestions regarding this field are recommended.

The thesis describes the relaxation properties of bituminous binders determined in dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). Paving bitumen, polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRmB) were chosen for comparison. In order to describe the effects of ageing on asphalt binders relaxation properties, the laboratory simulation of ageing using RTFOT and 3xRTFOT method was performed. For each binder were simultaneously conducted tests of needle penetration, softening point and elastic recovery. Selected bitumens were used for the production of asphalt mixtures. The low-temperature properties tests (TSRST) were performed for these mixtures, when the results were compared to the relaxation properties of binders determined in the DSR.

This thesis deals with the modification of asphalt binder 50/70 with fast reacting SBS. This is a relatively new additive that should be able to improve the binder properties during mixing of the asphalt mix at the plant. In the theoretical part, the issue of asphalt-mixing plant and polymer modification additives is presented. Furthermore, the test methods used such as needle penetration, softening point, determination of the elastic recovery, DSR and MSCR are described. Several modified binder samples were developed for the tests, in which mixing temperature, mixing time and SBS content were combined. The results of each test were compared and evaluated at the end of the thesis.

The diploma thesis deals with the possibility of mixing binders of the PMB RC type with a binder made of reclaimed ashalt. lists the types of asphalt binders, its production and modification are in the teoretical part. There is explained the principle of rejuvenators function, types of rejuvenators. The procedures for performing tests on asphalt binders: recovery of asphalt binder, needle penetration, softening point (ring and ball method), reversible ductility, breaking point (according to Fraass) and DSR. Individual tests are evaluated and asphalt mixtures are compared in the practical part of asphalt binder. The diploma thesis deals with the possibility of mixing binders of the PMB RC type with a binder made of reclaimed ashalt. lists the types of asphalt binders, its production and modification are in the teoretical part. There is explained the principle of rejuvenators function, types of rejuvenators. The procedures for performing tests on asphalt binders: recovery of asphalt binder, needle penetration, softening point (ring and ball method), reversible ductility, breaking point (according to Fraass) and DSR. Individual tests are evaluated and asphalt mixtures are compared in the practical part of asphalt binder.

Subject of this diploma thesis is to describe the effect of adding different amount of aged binder recovered from RAP on the change of properties of polymer modified bitumen. The RAP containing unmodified bitumen and the RAP where we can expect bitumen modification are used to recover binder. The binder obtained from RAP is dosed into the virgin binder in amount of 15 %, 30 % and 50 %. The methods of recycling of flexible pavements, extraction and regeneration of asphalt binders, rejuvenating of their properties and methods of empirical and functional laboratory tests are described in the theoretical part. The practical part deals with evaluating and comparison of the results mixed binders properties.