The study of a set of 20 asphalt cements reported in a recent publication is modified and extended to cover additional parameters and a precise statistical evaluation of correlations. For a given asphalt, the whole, original material is subjected to high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC) using a gravimetric finish. Theexperimental conditions used are kept uniform for all molecular size distribution (MSD) analyses in this study. Another part of asphaltis fractionated by ASTM D4124. Each Corbett fraction is subjected to HPGPC analysis. A part of original asphalt is subjected to 16-hr TFOT, and MSD of the aged sample is determined. Considering only the significant and highly significant correlations, the sign of associations tested indicate that a high LMS/MMS ratio (the molecular size index (MSI)) for original asphalt accompanies a low ACI, a minimum temperature susceptibility, a high resistance to aging (minimum change of MSI due to 16-hr TFOT), and a high viscosity, 135 degrees C. From the MSD of original asphalt, eight with the highest MSI show common parameters that predict a promising field performance.
Abstract