Quantification of real-time kinetics of bitumen's microstructure

Mobility is one of the essential prerequisites for the sustainable growth of modern human society, which is increasingly facing climate change, urbanisation, and raw materials depletion. To answer these challenges, substantial progress in the fundamental knowledge on microstructural and physicochemical properties of bitumen, as a critical material component of asphalt pavements, and the innovative approaches to its enhancement is the underlying factor for the breakthrough of road infrastructure in a zero-emission future. The behaviour of bitumen and its interaction with mineral aggregate is projected throughout all length scales of asphalt performance. Therefore, a deep understanding of its intrinsic features and the interaction with other material phases of asphalt is essential for successfully fulfilling the above goal. During recent years, there has been extensive multidisciplinary research all over the world dedicated to identifying the relations between the microstructural evolution of bitumen (primarily in the context of photo-oxidative ageing) and its rheomechanical performance, which directly affects the durability of asphalt pavement layers. Although these developments were made possible by an enormous advancement in various microscopic techniques, a systematic quantitative spatiotemporal characterisation of its multiphase composition considering various modifiers and comprehensive outside effects is still unavailable. The global aim of this scientific research network (SRN) is to conduct comprehensive basic research on the spatiotemporal microscopic and spectroscopic features of bitumen responsible for numerous physico-chemo-mechanical processes in the interaction between internal and external material phases. The planned research will be conducted by applying innovative ways for simulating thermal, oxidative, and mechanical effects (including their combination) to quantify the real-time kinetics of the material's microstructure and interphase relations. This SRN will join and implement cutting-edge experimental resources and techniques in the field. It will primarily consider bitumens of various origins (from around Europe), emerging aspects of elastomeric polymer modification, and rejuvenation of aged (i.e. recycled) bitumen. The currently highly relevant phenomena like phase separation, polymer degradation, and interaction with fine mineral aggregate will also be investigated. The main methods for pursuing these objectives will be laser scanning confocal, atomic force, scanning electron microscopy, and different types of calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and crystallography. The data processing will also include advanced image analysis algorithms as a new approach in the field of bituminous materials. This network will comprise leading and well-established scientists and stimulate the contribution of members below the postdoctoral level. Besides providing new and deep materials science-based insights, the output of this SRN should include the establishment of original approaches and new standards in the microstructural characterisation of bitumen as a multiphase system. These outputs would represent an essential background for further advancement of bitumen-based pavement materials and their implementation in sustainable road infrastructure systems.

Keywords:BITUMEN

Disciplines:Construction materials, Infrastructure engineering and asset management

Project type:Collaboration project