Influence of the morphology of thermoplastic elastomers on the properties of bitumen composites

Abstract

Bitumen properties may be successfully modified if the polymeric modifiers have the ability to control the elastic and plastic properties within wide temperature ranges of −30/−40°C to +45/+60°C. The article presents a study on the ability of two thermoplastic elastomers, thermoplastic block co-polymer styrene–styrene butadiene (SBS) and the co-polymer ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA), to be used in obtaining polymer bitumen composites with controlled properties. The elastic and plastic properties of the bitumen composites can be more easily controlled if these composites are modified with SBS. This thermoplastic elastomer is characterized by an optimum ratio between soft domains of amorphous polybutadiene and rigid ones of those represented by the thermoplastic blocks of polystyrene.