Third International Conference on Construction In Developing Countries (ICCIDCIII)

Advancing and Integrating Construction Education, Research & Practice

July 4-6, 2012, Bangkok, Thailand

(Paper 105, ID 112)

Properties of Asphalt Mixtures Prepared by Crump Rubber

Modified Bitumen
Khaled Z. Ramadan
(Associate professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Applied Science University, Amman-Jordan
e-mail ramadan66@asu.edu.jo.)
Ahmad M. Ashteyat
(Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Applied Science University, Amman-Jordan
e-mail aashteyat@asu.edu.jo )
Muhannad H. Ismeik
(Assistant professor, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Jordan Amman-Jordan
(e-mail ismeik@ju.edu.jo)

Abstract
Waste tires are a major cause of environment pollution in Jordan. One possible potential to
minimize this pollution and to possibly improve the properties of asphalt mixtures is to utilize
this waste material in modifying the asphalt used in preparing asphalt mixtures. In this
research, 60/70 penetration grade asphalt binder was modified by adding and mixing crump
rubber at 2, 4, 6, and, 8 percent by weight of asphalt binder following the wet process. The
modified asphalt was then used in preparing asphalt mixtures following the Marshall Mix
design procedure. Control specimens were prepared for the purpose of comparison. Results
showed that the up to 6% rubber content can be satisfactory used in modifying the asphalt
binder.

Keywords: Crump rubber, asphalt mixtures, modified binder, wet process

1. Introduction
Bitumen modification is necessary to improve its performance during service life. Rubbers
are excellent physical asphalt modifiers (Ali A. Yousei, 2002). Mixing crumb rubber with
asphalt cement in order to improve its properties is a well known process since a very long
time. In 1840s, natural rubber was mixed with bitumen to improve its engineering properties
(Heitzman, M. 1992). Waste vehicle tires in the form of crumb rubber have been utilized to
modify the properties of asphalt binder in mid-1960s (Sacramento county DERA and Bollard
& Brennan, Inc., 1999). Crumb rubber has been proposed as a modifier used with asphalt for
improving the performance and to extend the lifetime of asphalt pavements (Ayman M.
Othman, 2009). Crumb rubber can be utilized in asphalt mixtures by two processes: the dry
process and the wet process. In the dry process, the crumb rubber is used as a part of the fine
aggregate (rubber filler). In the wet process, the crumb rubber is pre-blended with asphalt

cement at high temperature to perform a homogeneous mixture. The addition of recycled tire
rubber in asphalt mixtures using dry process could improve engineering properties of asphalt
mixtures, and the rubber content has a significant effect on the performance of resistance to
permanent deformation at high temperature and cracking at low temperature (Weidong Cao,
2007). Besides improving the performance of asphalt pavement mixtures, utilization of crumb
rubber as an asphalt modifier plays a major role in solving environmental problems resulting
from scrap tire disposal (Ayman M. Othman, 2009).

2. Materials
2.1 Asphalt Binder
Asphalt binder supplied by the Jordanian petroleum refinery was used in this research. The
consistency properties of the used asphalt binder are as: penetration value of (60/70),
softening point of (52 oC), ductility value of (88 cm), and specific gravity of 1.03.
2.2 Crumb Rubber
Untreated crumb rubber (CR) originally taken from recycled vehicle tires was used. The
gradation of the used crumb rubber is shown in (Table 1). The specific gravity of the used
crumb rubber was 1.05.
Table 1: Crumb rubber Gradation
Sieve size

% Passing

4.75mm (No.4)

100

2.00mm (No.8)

100

1.18mm (No.16)

100

0.60mm (No.30)

100

0.30mm (No.50)

42.0

0.15mm (No.100)

17.5

0.075mm (No.200)

0.0

2.3 Aggregate
Lime stone aggregates (Coarse, fine and mineral filler) obtained from a local quarry was used
in preparing Marshall specimens. Physical properties and gradation of the used aggregates are
shown in (Table 2) and (Table 3), respectively. The gradation of aggregates confirm with the
Jordanian highway specifications published by the Ministry of Public Works and Housing
(MPWH).
Table 2: Physical properties of aggregates

Coarse

Bulk specific
gravity
2.6

Fine

2.5

Aggregate size

Absorption (%)
3.1
5.1

Mineral filler

2.65

Table 3: Aggregate Gradation

Aggregate
designation

Sieve size (mm)

% Retained

Weight (g)

19.5
12.5
9.5
4.75
2.36
0.425
0.075
pan

0
20
12
23
15
21
4
5

0
220
132
253
165
231
44
55

Coarse

Fine
Mineral filler

3. Procedures and Testing

3.1 Binder Modification
60/70 penetration grade asphalt binder was modified by adding and mixing crump rubber
(CR) at 2, 4, 6, and 8 percent by weight of asphalt binder following the wet process. For
mixing the (CR) with the binder following the wet process, a special setup for a high speed
mixer was set to keep the mixture at the desired temperature (180 oC) through a total mixing
time of about 15 minutes. In the mixing process, the binder was first heated to 150 oC. The
(CR) was gradually added, and then the mixture was kept in the mixing cup at 180 oC for the
remaining mixing time (around 10 minutes). A homogeneous mixture of (CR) and asphalt
binder for all different percentages of added (CR) was obtained.
3.2 Consistency Tests
At the end of mixing process, samples were directly taken for consistency tests. The
consistency tests were conducted to obtain the following values; penetration value in
accordance with ASTM D5 test standards, softening point value in accordance with ASTM
D36 test standards, ductility value in accordance with ASTM D113 test standards, and the
specific gravity value in accordance with ASTM D70 test standards. Tests results are shown
in (Table 4).
3.3 Marshall Testing Procedure
Marshall specimens (for medium traffic volume) were prepared and tested following the
ASTM Standard D 1559 (ASTM 2003a). The specimens were prepared at optimum bitumen
content (OBC) of 5.5% (K. Ramadan and A. Ashteyat, 2009). Three specimens were prepared
at each (CR) content, and average values were taken. Test results are shown in figures 1
through 5.

4. Results and Discussion

4.1 Consistency of (CR) Modified Asphalt Binder

Rubber is a very high molecular weight polymer that contains some impurities, and dispersing
it in asphalt binder produces a stiff blend (Ali A. Yousefi, 2002). Adding (CR) to the asphalt
binder changed its consistency due to the increase in its viscosity. As someone may expect,
penetration and ductility values were decreased as the (CR) content was increased. On the
contrary, softening point and specific gravity values increased with increasing the (CR)
content. Consistency tests results are presented in (Table 4).
Table 4: Consistency tests results for the modified asphalt binder.

% of added
crumb
rubber
0
2
4
6
8

Penetration
(25oC)
(10th mm)
60/70
60/70
50/60
50/60
50/60

Consistency tests
Ductility
Softening point
(25oC)
(oC)
(cm)
52
88
54
83
58
77
61
71
64
68

Specific
gravity
1.03
1.03-1.04
1.03-1.04
1.03-1.04
1.04-1.05

4.2 Marshall Specimens

Adding (CR) to the asphalt binder makes it more viscous and stiffer blend. At the same
temperature, the viscosity of the blend increases as the added percent of (CR) increases thus
makes it more difficult to compact. Due to this, a mix with more air voids and less density
(bulk specific gravity) is obtained. This will reversely affect the stability value and increase
the flow and the voids in mineral aggregates (VMA) values. Test results for Marshalls'
specimens that are summarized in (Table 5) agree with the above discussion. The
specification specified by the Jordanian Ministry of Public Works and Housing (MPWH) for
each property are shown in the (Table 6). Figure 1(a) through (e) shows graphical
presentation for the results. When comparing the results in Table 5 with those in Table 6, it
can be seen that adding up to 6% crumb rubber to modify the asphalt binder does not violate
the specifications specified by the Jordanian (MPWH). Adding 6% (CR) to the asphalt binder
is critical since it results with the maximum and minimum values accepted by the (MPWH).
Exceeding 6% violates the specifications specified by the Jordanian (MPWH).

Table 5: Marshall specimens test results.

Property
(CR)
Content
0

Bulk
specific
gravity
2.41

Stability
(KN)

Flow
(mm)

Air voids
(%)

VMA
(%)

8.2

12.5

15

2
4
6
8

2.38
2.30
2.20
2.11

6.5
5.7
5.3
4.7

14.2
15.4
17.1
20.3

4.1
4.6
5.1
5.7

Table 6: Specifications required by the Jordanian (MPWH)

Property
(MPWH) Specification
Stability (KN)

5.3*

Flow (mm)

8-16**

VMA (%)

14***

Air voids (%)

3-5

* minimum for medium trafic category

**for medium traffic category
*** minimum for 19.5mm aggrergate maximum nominal size

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)
Figure 1: Marshal specimens test results. (a) bulk specific gravity, (b) stability (KN),
(c) flow (mm), (d) air voids (%), (d) VMA (%)

16.2
17.6
17.8
18.1

5. Conclusions
The purpose of this research is to examine the potential of utilizing the waste tires as crumb
rubber in asphalt binder in order to partially solve the pollution problem in Jordan. The above
results and discussions yield that adding (CR) to asphalt binder increases its consistency.
Results also showed that adding up to 6% (CR) to the asphalt binder (by weight of asphalt
binder) is possible and does not violate the Jordanian (MPWH) requirements.

`
7. References
Yousefi, A.A., 2002. "Rubber-modified Bitumens". Iranian Polymer Journal. Vol. 11,
No: 5, pp. 303-308.
Ramadan, K.Z. and Ashteyat A.M., 2009. "Utilization of White Cement Bypass Dust
as Filler in Asphalt Concrete Mixture". Canadian Journal of Civil Engineering
(CJCE), Vol. 36, pp. 191-195.
Heitzman, M., 1992. "State of the Practice-Design and Construction of Asphalt
Paving Materials with Crumb Rubber Modifier". Research Report No. FHWA-SA92-022, Federal Highway Administration, Washington, D.C.
Othman, A. M., 2009. "Incorporation of White Cement Dust on Rubber Modified
Asphalt Concrete Mixtures". International Journal of Civil & Environmental
Engineering IJCEE, Vol. 9, No:10 pp. 40-51.
Weidong, Cao., 2007. "Study on Properties of Recycled Tire Rubber Modified Asphalt
Mixtures using Dry Process". Construction and Building Materials, Vol. 21, issue
5, pp. 1011-1015