A Novel Approach to Understanding Asphalt Binder Aging Behavior Using Asphaltene Proportion as a Performance Indicator

Abstract The main objective of this research study was to formulate and deduce aging indices and parametric models with asphaltene as a performance indicator using virgin and modified asphalt binders. The estimated asphaltene content of binders increased from unaged to short-term and subsequently to long-term aged condition. Also, modified binders had higher asphaltene contents than virgin binders. Asphaltene content was found to be a truly valuable aging performance assessor to investigate asphalt binder aging characteristics in a rational manner. Asphalt aging parametric models were developed using asphaltene content and fundamental binder properties, which were mathematically robust. The parametric models precisely predicted rational aging performance of asphalt binders at different aging combinations. A final binder aging predictive model was recommended that relates short- and long-term aging conditions, which had excellent rational correlations. A novel approach was taken in this study that synergized asphalt binder rheological properties and aging performance criteria specifically incorporating asphaltene, which is a chemical parametric indicator pertinent to asphalt aging characterization and evaluation.