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This study exploits silica and polyphosphoric acid (PPA) synergistic effects to produce air-blown bitumen with desired stiffness and reduced carbon footprint. This in turn enhances the durability of the resulting air-blown bitumen while reducing gaseous emissions associated with its production. Here, we hypothesize that PPA-grafted silica made by adsorption of polyphosphoric acid to pristine silica nanoparticles promotes intermolecular interactions in vacuum bottom (VB), facilitating the production of air-blown bitumen. To test this hypothesis, laboratory experiments and modeling were used to determine the underlying molecular interactions determining PPA-grafted silica's role in facilitating the production of air-blown bitumen. Our molecular modeling showed PPA promotes the interaction between VB molecules by up to 10.28%; this combined with the increased polarity of VB molecules during the air-blowing process, leads to a significant increase in intermolecular interactions accelerating VB's stiffening. The latter was evidenced in our experiments showing that the required air-blowing time to reach desired stiffness measured by penetration and softening point was reduced up to 25% (time to reach required stiffness was reduced from 120 min to 90 min when silica-grafted polyphosphoric acid was used). Reduction of manufacturing time reduces VB's exposure to heat which leads to the formation of secondary organic aerosols. This promotes the economic and environmental sustainability aspects of the air-blowing process and contributes to resource conservation. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the mutual effect of polyphosphoric acid (PPA) and ethylene bis(stearamide) (EBS) modification was examined on the high and low service temperatures and viscosity of a performance grade (PG) 58-22 asphalt binder as a conventional neat bitumen widely used for paving applications. Three different dosages of PPA, including 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% were used to modify the neat asphalt binder, and 3% of EBS as a selected percentage was added to PPA-modified samples. The dynamic shear rheometer was used to evaluate the high-temperature properties of the neat and modified bitumens based on standard Superpave protocol parameter (G*/sinδ) and multiple stress creep and recovery test. The low service temperatures of the samples were determined using the bending beam rheometer test. Also, the high-temperature ranges viscosities of the samples were evaluated using a series of rotational viscometer tests. The results have shown that increasing the PPA dosage up to 1.5% enhances the high service temperature of the neat asphalt binder 20.4°C and 14.7°C based on Superpave protocol and multiple stress creep and recovery test, respectively. However, it deteriorates the low-temperature performance of modified binders from −24.3°C to −16.9°C. The EBS can significantly compensate for the negative effect of PPA modification on the low-temperature behavior of modified bitumens. The optimum combination was 1% PPA+3% EBS as it provides a similar low-temperature grade to the neat asphalt binder having a significant two grades enhancement of high service temperature. Modifying a PPA-modified asphalt binder with EBS can reduce its viscosity at high temperatures, leading to saving energy of mixing and compaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]