Both short- and long-term aging can have a significant influenceon the performance of hot mix asphalt pavements. This is true for polymer-modified asphalts as well as for conventional asphalt cements. The latter can undergo significant age hardening during storage, mixing, and placement in the field. This long-term aging can be dramatic and lead to premature pavement failure. The effects of aging canbe exacerbated in the case of permeable pavements or in regions with extreme climatic conditions. Polymer modification is a way of overcoming these potential deficiencies by providing binders with well-balanced property sets. However, unsaturated polymers are susceptibleto thermal and oxidative degradation. Thus, it is imperative to avoid prolonged storage and excessive temperatures during processing. Improved thermal and oxidative stability can be achieved by modifyingasphalts with saturated polymers. (A)
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