Evaluation and Comparison of Mechanical Properties of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixtures

Polymer modification is extensively used in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) because the available asphalt cement does not satisfy the high-temperature requirements. It was widely used in KSA for more than two decades, and there is little information regarding the differences in the performance of different polymers approved for binder modification. Pavement engineers require performance comparisons among various polymers to select the best polymer for modification rather than make their selection based on satisfying binder specifications. Furthermore, the mechanical properties can help select polymer type, producing mixes of better resistance to specific pavement distresses. The study objective was to compare the mechanical properties of the various polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) mixtures that are widely used in the Riyadh region. Control mix and five other mixes with different polymers (Lucolast 7010, Anglomak 2144, Pavflex140, SBS KTR 401, and EE-2) were prepared. PMA mixtures were evaluated through different mechanical tests, including dynamic modulus, flow number, Hamburg wheel tracking, and indirect tensile strength. The results show an improvement in mechanical properties for all PMA mixtures relative to the control mixture. Based on the overall comparison, the asphalt mixture with polymer Anglomk2144 was ranked the best performing mixture, followed by Paveflex140 and EE-2.