Modification of bitumen

Bitumen has been used in the in the construction of flexible pavement for a more
than a century in laying wearing course. There has been exponential increase in
traffic volume, overloading of commercial vehicles and significant variations in daily
and seasonal temperatures showing limitations in bituminous binder performance
and has led to early development of distress symptoms like cracking, rutting,
ravelling, shoving and potholing of the bituminous surfacing. Bitumen as viscoelastic materials plays a prominent role in determining many aspects of road
behavior (Ramalinga et al, 2015). The wearing course should be flexible enough at
low service temperature to prevent cracking and stiff enough at high service
temperature to prevent rutting. Flexible pavement that have been constructed
using conventional bitumen dont perform as expected necessitating modification of
bitumen to be carried out.

Conventional bitumen has been modified using polymer and chemical reaction.
Investigations have revealed that properties of bitumen and bituminous mixes can
be improved to meet the growing requirements of pavement with incorporation of
certain polymers as it offers a combination of performance related benefits as it
improves the physical properties of the bitumen without changing the chemical
nature of it (Ramalinga et al, 2015). Modified bitumen provides the diversified
properties needed to build better performing roads. Bitumen modified with polymer
has gained momentum due to its vast application in the field of flexible pavements
(Airey GD., 2002).

The polymer usually influences the bitumen by creating an inter-connecting matrix

of the polymer through the bitumen. It is this matrix of long chain molecules of the
added polymer that modifies the physical properties of the bitumen. These additives
increase the elasticity, decrease the brittle point and increase the softening point of
the bitumen. This, in turn, will alter the properties of the mix in which such modified
bitumen is used and these mixes will exhibit greater stiffness at higher temperature
and high flexibility at low temperatures.
Using of waste material to modify bitumen helps in solving serious environmental
problems and at the same time improve road performance. The main advantage of
using polymer technology is to improve adhesion properties between the binder and
the aggregates and provide a higher strength to the modified bitumen or mixtures
(Ramalinga et al, 2015).

We may still be asking ourselves the big question; why do we need to improve the
properties of Bitumen? Increased traffic loads and climate change is still a big

challenge for researchers in the asphalt road industry. Researches are trying to find
a new addition to improve the properties of bitumen and to have a clear impact in
the performance of asphalt roads.
In improving the properties of bitumen, several types of modification have been
carried out. These include additive modification, polymer modification and chemical
reaction modification. Investigations have revealed that properties of bitumen and
bituminous mixes can be improved to meet the growing requirements of pavement
with incorporation of certain additives. For many years, researchers and
development chemists have experimented with modified bitumen mainly for
industrial uses, adding asbestos, sulphur, magnesium, mineral fibers and rubber
among other additives.

Punith et al (2007) used reclaimed PE as asphalt modifiers. They found that the
basic test properties indicated that the additional of PE content to neat asphalt
reduces the penetration and ductility values, whereas increase in softening point
and specific gravity values were observed with the addition of PE modifier. A PE
content of 5% by weight of asphalt is recommended for the improvement of the
performance of asphalt cement. A studies carried by Emeritus (2002), cement, lime
and chemicals like sulphur and manganese had been used to improve the viscosity
of bitumen enhancing adhesion between the bitumen and aggregate

Shirish et al (2013) carried out a study on utilization of polymer waste for

modification of bitumen in road construction. He discovered that plastics do
increase the melting point of bitumen. He also stated that the use of this modified
bitumen with polymer not only strengthened the road construction but also
increased the road life as well as helping in improving the environment and also
creating a source of income.

Tapase et al (2014) carried out a study on the performance evaluation of polymer

modified bitumen in flexible pavement. The objective of work was to investigate the
effect of plastic waste in flexible pavement and suggest the optimum percentage of
bitumen that could be replaced by plastic waste for the improvement of roads. The
results obtained in the laboratory investigation indicated major gain in strength with
substantial saving in cost. Another experimental study was carried out by Ashok et
al (2012) on performance of polymer modified bitumen for flexible pavement.
Experimental study was carried out on conventional bitumen and polymer modified
binder. The results indicated that rutting resistance, indirect tensile strength and
resilient modulus of the bituminous concrete mix with polymer modified bitumen
significantly improved.

Tariq et al (2014) on his study on sustainability of bitumen with PE as polymer,

concluded that polymer modified HMA shows better engineering properties than
simple bitumen mix and it has a higher stiffness at high service temperature that
will result in reduced rutting as the blend has increased softening point. The
phenomenon indicated that the resistance of the binder to the effect of heat was
increased and it reduced its tendency to soften in hot weather. This is good in the
sense that it improves the overall performance of HMA by increased rutting
resistance, durability, and load carrying capacity, improved resistance to
weathering effects, increased stability and improved binding properties of HMA.

Rupesh et al 2015 carried out study on economic construction of bituminous road by

the utilization of waste tyre rubber with the aim of finding a good mix proportion for
the rubberized bitumen. It resulted in much improved characteristics of bitumen
when compared to with conventional bitumen, due to improved strength of Modified
Bitumen.

This thesis will focus into the performance of modified bitumen by comparing it with
80/100 unmodified bitumen. SWPB and WSCA will be used in modification of the
bitumen. Waste sugar cane ash has also been used to partially replace ordinary
Portland cement in preparation of mortar for building of concrete blocks. Marcos et
al (2009) carried out an investigation for evaluating the effect of partial
replacement of OPC by WSCA in building mortar for its pozzolanic properties. He
found out that OPC can be replaced by up to 30% of WSCA and still retain its
strength when making concrete blocks. Mwero (2010) realized that WSCA from
Mumias Sugar Company can replace cement by up to 50% without losing on its
compressive strength in a concrete blocks.

Waste Sugar cane Ash

Sugar mills have been using Bagasse to generate steam and electricity for internal plant
requirements. Bagasse is often used as a primary fuel source for sugar mills; when burned in
quantity, it produces sufficient heat energy to supply all the needs of a typical sugar mill, with
energy to spare.
Kawade et al (2013) carried out a study on the effect of use of Bagasse Ash on Strength of
Concrete and concluded that Bagasse Ash give concrete significantly higher compressive
strength replacing ordinary Portland cement to a maximum limit of 15%.

Sugar cane is one of Kenyas most important cash crops. Currently, most of the pulp, or
bagasse, left after the canes juice is extracted goes to waste. In this film, John Mwero, an
engineer at the University of Nairobi, talks about his PhD research on adding the ash left after
burning bagasse to cement. Not only does doing so recycle this readily available by-product, but
it
also
strengthens
concrete.
Mweros PhD was made possible through a scholarship with AMSEN (the African Materials
Science and Engineering Network). AMSEN is part of RISE (the Regional Initiative in Science
and Education), a programme designed to strengthen higher education in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mwero argues that without the access to other universities equipment and the networking
opportunities with other African academics that the scholarship provided, it would have been
impossible to obtain his PhD in Kenya.