Polymer modified asphalt

Considering the international position of Venezuelanoil industry as one of the leaders of the current world asphalt production, it is important to be aware of the source of opportunities that polymer modified asphalt (PMA) offers in today’s market. Based on that, this paper presents an overview of the characteristics of polymer-asphalt binders, mostly used in the paving industry. Emphasis is being made on the relationships of composi-tion and formulation with the properties of the binder, and the relationships of the binder properties and performance of the mixture. Although polymer modifi-cation seems to be the best solution to improve asphalt properties, these systems present three main problems: a) poor asphalt polymer compatibility (which influences the stability of the system), b) higher viscosities during asphalt processing and application, and c) higher cost. These