POLYMER MODIFIED ASPHALT NANOCOMPOSITES

Asphalt one of the versatile materials of antique, inspite of its compositional variations and complexities, widely employed in various applications like water proofing, paving etc. Due to the complex physical and chemical nature, Asphalt seldom performs well, without any modification. Amidst other materials, polymers found to be most suitable for modifying asphalt to suit the application demands. Nanomaterials, particularly invention of nanoclays, have enhanced the properties of polymers manifold when introduced in polymer. Polymer Nanocomposites thus obtained emerge with innovative properties which are not available with existing polymers. Similar to the effect of nanoclay in polymer, polymers improve the properties of asphalt. The hypothesis behind this work is to combine the advantages of nanoclay in polymer and polymer in asphalt by introducing, polymer and nanoclay in asphalt. Two different nanoclays, Cloisite 20A and Dellite 43B, were introduced along with EVA by different methods such as Physical Mixing and Melt Blending. This gave rise to Polymer Modified Asphalt Nanocomposites (PMAN) a new class of material. Thermal, morphological, structural and rheological properties were studied. Based on the above studies, fuel resistance PMAN with EMA, EVA and SBS developed. Also, flammability of PMAN was studied by developing new test method using Limiting Oxygen Index equipment. From this research work, new class of materials (PMAN) based on polymer and nanoclay with improved rheological and performance properties, fuel resistance were developed.