Search

Cold in-situ recycling with foamed bitumen has become one of the most cost-effective and sustainable technologies due to working with low heating energy, less transport, and decreasing the use of new materials. This paper presents a benchmark laboratory study of the volumetric and mechanical properties of cold recycled foamed bitumen mixes blended with 100% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the granular base layer. The air void content, indirect tensile strength, and resistance to moisture damage are tested to evaluate the impact of active filler, compaction technique, and geopolymer. It was found that the addition of active filler, regardless of the type, increased the moisture resistance between 30% and 35% compared to the mixture with no active filler. Moreover, the addition of slag-based geopolymer resulted in a substantial increase in tensile strength from 434 kPa to 823 kPa while leading to a sharp decrease from 70% to 38% in moisture resistance.

Geopolymers are inorganic and versatile alternative binder. They exist in a wide range, varying from a material which behaves like mortars to a material with properties like ceramics. This makes them a potentially innovative alternative to repair mortars. In this research the activation of metakaolin-based geopolymers is explored in the context of stone conservation. A set of reactivity tests are performed to evaluate activators and compatibility with a lime-based binder. The physico-chemical properties of the binder are investigated, in combination with low proportions of standardized aggregates of marl powder, limestone powder and quartz sand. The most promising mixtures absorb water relatively slowly due to the relative small pore sizes. The samples have a high open porosity and therefore a lower density when compared to results found in literature from geopolymers with aggregate, but the results are comparable to geopolymers without aggregates. The compressive strength is comparable to currently used repair mortars. This study shows that metakaolin with lime-based binders could be investigated in the future as alternative binder in stone repair mortars.

The reuse of construction components is considered as a higher value process in a Circular Economy (CE) than recycling. However, this is not yet widely adopted as many barriers still prevent the successful integration of the concept. The ISO20887 standard advocates that the implementation of construction standards will benefit circular reuse. Yet, these standards still need to be developed. To better understand the views of the construction sector, a survey was sent to the network of the Green Deal on Circular Construction (GDCC), led by Circular Flanders. The survey (number of recipients = 629, response rate = 16%) investigates the current implementation of Design for Disassembly and the reuse of construction components. Additionally, it investigates the respondents’ view on how a further morphological standardisation of components and connections, as well as standardisation of procedures can facilitate this reuse of construction components. The result is a concrete set of action points and corresponding actors who need to take responsibility. The stakeholders point out that there is no legal framework for component reuse. Yet, this framework can only be created through their largescale cooperation to create the needed construction standards that will truly enable the circular reuse of components.

Bitumen characterisation and differentiation usually involve a combination of mechanical and chemical analyses. However, these methods provide limited information on the diversity caused by the binders' origin or processing method. Thus, the question arises whether the bitumen microstructure can be used to identify these issues. In this study, microscopic methods, including brightfield, darkfield and fluorescence optical inverse microscopy (OIM), as well as confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), were used to investigate the bitumen surface. Five different binders varying in their origin and production method were selected. The results show that CLSM, AFM and OIM darkfield can adequately capture a specific surface microstructure known as the bee structure, whereas brightfield in the OIM and optical CLSM show the surrounding peri phase, which exhibits a strong fluorescence. All visbroken binders show bee structures surrounded by a pronounced peri phase. On the other hand, one of the straight distilled binders does not show any microstructure, while the second straight distilled binder displays smaller bee structures surrounded by a small peri phase. Results from the image processing evaluation reveal that the area covered by bee structures is in the range of 2.4 - 4.3% for those binders that developed a surface microstructure. These results indicate a good accordance between the three microscopic techniques selected. However, a clear differentiation between the binders is difficult to obtain. Nonetheless, this work shows how these techniques can be used to their maximum capabilities regarding the obtained microstructural information and may help solve future questions regarding ageing, modification or rejuvenation.

Geopolymers are an interesting material because they are inorganic and non-toxic, they are inexpensive because the raw materials are easy to obtain, and they also have high strength and are able to process and adjust. These properties make them an innovative alternative to restoration mortars, which carry out current restoration treatments of stone heritage, but which often cause more damage because they are not fully compatible with the original.Geopolymers are stone-like materials placed between binders, such as cements and ceramics. Different types of geopolymers exist, depending on the raw materials and the system through which they are activated. In this research we focus on geopolymers with a base of metakaolin. Metakaolin based geopolymers improve the properties of the end product compared to geopolymers based on fly-ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag. For curing the geopolymer, certain requirements have been set that take into account the application of the geopolymer in the restoration sector in the future, like curing by room temperature and ambient relative humidity in less than 48 hours. A set of reactivity tests have been performed to determine the appropriate activator and to optimize their ideal molarity. These tests shows that calcium hydroxide give the best results in forming a matrix of geopolymer.In the next phase of the research, the compatibility between the geopolymer and porous sedimentary building stones will be investigated. The properties that are important for technical compatibility include: porosity, pore size distribution, capillary water absorption, frost resistance, structure, texture, compressive and bending strength. Samples are made with standardized aggregates of marl flour (porous calcium carbonate flour), limestone flour (non-porous calcium carbonate flour) and relatively pure sand with various grain size distribution to evaluate the compatibility and to investigate the effects on reactivity. It is critical this test phase is carried out with pure products, so that any contamination cannot affect the results. In the following stage it is then possible to experiment with the effect of degraded and contaminated original material as aggregate.

Fatigue resistance is of paramount importance for bituminous materials and so it is the effect of applying rest periods, as this is a more realistic representation of the traffic loading. To this end, to evaluate the healing potential, storage rest periods were introduced during a series of fatigue tests. In this study, the healing investigation was performed on the asphalt and mortar scale, aiming to assess the effect of reclaimed asphalt binder (RAB) on the healing potential. For the mortars, the healing indices derived under different damage levels and rest periods were modelled into a healing master curve, describing the healing index as a function of damage level and rest time. The asphalt tests revealed that the mixtures containing RAB showed higher healing potential compared to the control mix, attributed mainly to the existence of a softer blend as a result of partial blending. Furthermore, chemical indicators were considered to assess the healing potential of the binder blends and compared to the results of the healing tests. For the mortars, the 70% RAB samples showed the lowest healing potential, reflecting the full effect of very high RAB content, when the RAB is fully blended with the virgin binder.

The construction industry is responsible for approximately 40% of the worldwide material consumption. Therefore, the transition to a circular construction industry is of primary importance. In a circular economy, the maximum usage and preservation of materials and energy is suggested. The reuse of components is considered a circular economy best practice. This paper investigates the reuse of steel construction elements in Belgium and identifies the existing barriers. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted with a wide range of stakeholders representing the whole Belgian construction sector. The identified critical barriers to steel reuse are cost, demand and time. Subsequently, these barriers were tested and quantified in practice in co-operation with a demolition contractor. A comparison was made between demolition and deconstruction of steel porticos considering cost, time and demand. It was found that, in practice, demand is the most pressing obstacle. Overcoming this obstacle will require a coordinated approach throughout the Belgian construction chain: improved deconstruction procedures on-site, a platform to match supply and demand, standardisation of reusable steel elements, governmental policies and design strategies.

In literature, microscopy techniques including atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and recently also confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) have been used to study the microstructure of bitumen. Es-pecially by AFM, various surface morphologies have been observed. Well-known are the so-called Bee structures, related to a regular height profile of lower and higher regions. The appearance of these microstructures has been linked to the presence of crystallizing waxes. In addition to this, other regions surround-ing, or in between the Bee structures have been described. These have been re-ferred to as the perpetua or peri structures, and very little is known about the origin or formation of these phases. In this study, straight, saturated hydrocarbons of specific chain lengths, were added to a wax-free naphthenic bitumen, and the air-bitumen interfaces were in-vestigated by AFM. As expected, the unmodified bitumen did not display any topological microstructure, and by adding waxes to this binder, Bee structures could be generated. However, not only Bee structures were obvious, but the in-termediate phases could also be generated under certain conditions. The chain length of the waxes, as well as their blending ratios were the determining parame-ters for the type of structures that were formed. So, in conclusion, this study demonstrates that not only the Bee structures, but also the intermediate and/or surrounding structures are related to the presence of waxy hydrocarbons, and no other molecular structures are needed or involved in the formation of these structures.

The crumb rubber (CR) from end-of-life tyres has become a common additive to bitumen due to its capacity to improve the mechanical properties of bituminous binders in terms of high-temperature stability. This study aims to investigate the influence of adding CR into a bituminous binder using the wet process by relating the microstructural characterisation with its rheological properties. The impact of the mixing conditions, and percentage of the added CR on the rheological properties was determined. The CR particles digested within the binder matrix influences the softening point as well as the penetration test results. The addition of CR decreases the temperature susceptibility and improves the elasticity of the binder, as shown by the DSR results. By using a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM), the roughness of the surface could be observed, enabling us to find a close relationship between this parameter, conventional binder tests, and rheological tests.

Bitumen is a complex mixture whose composition–structure-property relationships are not well-understood. Therefore, it is essential to understand which components may develop microstructures, how and when these features appear, and if they are initiated or influenced by other components. Many studies have reported so- called bee structures as well as other phases on bitumen surfaces. A large number of observations point to-wards the crystallinity of waxy compounds as an explanation for the bees. However, doubt remains about the origin of the other phases and the possibility of other bitumen components as promoters of the bee formation. In this study, bee structures were investigated using two microscopy techniques: atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). By using model wax compounds, especially blends of waxes differing in melting points and chain lengths, bee structures and surrounding islands were created on featureless bitumen surfaces. Structures very similar to what is observed on a paraffinic bitumen were obtained. This in-dicates that bees and the surrounding areas both consist of crystallisable components. Moreover, bee structures were also generated on other surfaces, such as mineral oil and a maltene fraction. Bee formation is not limited to bituminous materials and bitumen components are not needed as promotors. Furthermore, CLSM offers possi-bilities to scan through transparent layers and to investigate surfaces under glass, for example. In contact with such a solid substrate, as well as after water submersion, no microstructural features were observed. Adding a combination of n-alkanes, to transparent oil, induced bee structures at the oil-air interface. The transparency of the oil allowed the visualization of wax crystallization in the bulk, where the added waxes crystallize as small particles. These small crystals are expected to influence the mechanical properties, such as low-temperature stiffening effects, which have been reported for paraffinic bitumen.

Bitumen’s surface microstructure is in general well-documented and most recent theories postulate the effect of crystalline wax on the so-called bee structures. Although it is widely accepted that ageing has an effect on this unique microstructure yet conflicting literature exists on clear trends. This paper explores the effect of ageing on the bee structures of bitumen, employing two advanced microscopic techniques: an Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). Four waxy and two wax-free bituminous binders are investigated before and after sequential laboratory short- and long-term ageing. The study demonstrates that the number of bees per μm2 and bee area percentage decrease with ageing, whereas their size is increasing. A systematic analysis of the waveform characteristics is also provided for the peaks and valleys as well as the shape probabilistic values of the bee structures. In conclusion, the results of the two techniques are in good agreement, reporting similar trends upon ageing for the relative bee density. Differences are mainly identified in the waveform calculations. It is believed that this systematic investigation may assist in enhancing the understanding of the effect of ageing on the surface microstructure, the wax distribution as well as on the wax crystallisation.

Microstructures of bitumen surfaces (both air-cooled and fractured) were imaged by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and chemically characterised by time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (TOF-SIMS). For certain air-cooled bitumen surfaces, bee structures were observed by AFM, and chemical explanation by wax crystallisation was confirmed by TOF-SIMS analysis. Unlike the air-cooled surfaces, the fracture surfaces generally did not show clear structure patterns. Furthermore, TOF-SIMS analysis was conducted on the tube-like or worm structures which were generated by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) on the bitumen surfaces. In general, very small chemical differences were observed between the structured and unstructured areas, as well as between different areas of the structure. To understand the formation of the ESEM structures, possible contributing factors were examined, from which a mechanism involving electron-induced heating was proposed.

Rheological characterisation methods are important when it comes to a performance-based selection system for bituminous binders for road applications. Standardised methods exist for the determination of bitumen rheological behaviour based on a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) at intermediate and high service temperatures and a bending beam rheometer (BBR) at low temperatures. Recently, a dynamic shear rheometer with 4 mm parallel plates (4-mm DSR), has been proposed by Western Research Institute (WRI), as a promising method to determine the rheological behaviour at low temperatures. Clear advantages of the 4-mm DSR are related to the small sample size, especially important for recovered and aged binders, and the ability to work with adequate stresses at very low temperatures. Furthermore, if 4-mm DSR can be used to assess the low temperature behaviour of bitumen, then the performance of a binder in the whole range of service temperatures, could be assessed by just one equipment, a DSR. This paper focuses on the challenges related to 4-mm DSR tests regarding equipment preparation, with a specific attention to the temperature assessment and calibration. Furthermore, a sample preparation method, assuring good adhesion to both plates is proposed and the repeatability and reproducibility of 4-mm DSR tests is evaluated.

Currently, reclaimed asphalt (RA) is considered as one of the most recyclable materials in the construction industry of the developed countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of RA on manufactured mixtures in Flanders and to define a correlation between RA and mechanical performance through the statistical spectrum. In this study a statistical analysis was carried out on a dataset of 74 bituminous mixtures, certified in Flanders (2009–2016). A bivariate correlation analysis was used to determine the influential factors and the impact on the performance of mixtures. In addition, the determination of the effect of RA on major mechanical properties was evaluated by an independent-samples T-test analysis. Finally, a prediction model was fitted using the multiple linear regression analysis. The main result of the comparison within the mechanical properties showed that for this dataset the mixtures with RA exhibit at least equal mechanical properties compared to mixtures without RA. The correlation analysis provided insight on the influential factors of the mechanical properties, such as a significant linear correlation between binder properties (penetration and softening point) and mechanical properties (stiffness, fatigue and wheel rutting). Moreover, the multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis quantitatively described the influence of mix properties on mechanical properties.

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

The concept of a circular economy has been proposed as a key component of a solution for the finiteness of earth’s resources. As one path, the research on the direct reuse of construction components focusses on strategies for designing buildings for disassembly in the end-of-life stage. This is of particular importance because it can reduce the environmental impact of the construction industry. The recently published ISO 20887 also advocates to design buildings for disassembly and to use standard-sized components. However, to the authors’ knowledge the role of standardisation in this process remains unexplored. Therefore, in this paper the evolution of standardisation is studied in order to identify the drivers for standardisation and currently available standards that aid and support the claims of the ISO 20887. This study concludes that most standards are introduced from an economic, rather than an environmental point of view. Also, ISO 20887 seems to be the first actual standard addressing the idea of reusing building components. Through an integrative discussion of the available types of construction standards, the problem areas obstructing the required further standardisation are identified: protectionism of contractors whom perceive standardisation as a threat, protectionism of manufacturers whom are reluctant to change the organisation structure, and designers whom seem least aware of the need to implement the circular economy in the construction sector. Finally, a corresponding trajectory is proposed for future standardisation to tackle these problem areas and to actually perform its role as an essential enabler for circular Reuse in the construction sector.

In this article, we report the use of a Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) to apply a qualitative assessment of atmospheric corrosion on steel samples. From the CLSM, we obtain high-resolution images, together with a 3D heightmap. The performance of four different segmentation algorithms that use the high-resolution images as input is qualitatively assessed and discussed. A novel 3D segmentation algorithm based on the shape index is presented and compared to the 2D segmentation algorithms. From this analysis, we conclude that there is a significant difference in performance between the 2D segmentation algorithms and that the 3D method can be an added value to the detection of corrosion.

An improved test is proposed to determine the fatigue resistance of bituminous mortars by applying time-sweep cyclic (oscillatory) tests using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). To evaluate its applicability, a bituminous mortar mixture derived from a dense asphalt concrete (AC) mix was utilized. The objectives of this study were twofold; firstly, to design a new geometry that ensures higher repeatability of measurements and failure at a predefined zone. Secondly, to provide a methodology to evaluate the fatigue resistance of a mortar sample including the theoretical design of the mortar composition and the actual fatigue test protocol. The findings of this study present an efficient test procedure for the estimation of the fatigue life of bituminous mortars, with a consistent fracture zone, reproducible mortar samples and high coefficient of determination (R2) for the fatigue curves. Reflecting on other fatigue testing approaches, this theoretical and empirical study provides additional value towards standardization of fatigue testing in bituminous mortars.

As the performances of unsaturated polyester mortar are related to its composition, this research is focused on the influence of the grain size distribution of the aggregates, glass fibres reinforcement and the use of recycled aggregates on its mechanical and physical properties and microstructure. It revealed that a higher fraction of coarse sand caused a decrease in compressive (2 to 3%), tensile splitting (10 till 14%) and flexural tensile (5 to 9%) strength since the interlocking effects decrease, while microstructure analysis reveals more cracks and air voids when the filler fraction is substituted. Moreover, the addition of a small amount of glass fibres, i.e. 0.20 vol%, resulted in a decrease of 0.9, 3.4 and 4.6%, respectively, in compressive, tensile splitting and flexural tensile strength, whereas the impact toughness doubled. The properties related to the microstructure indicate that this mixture is less compacted compared to a mixture without fibre reinforcement, although the ultrasonic pulse velocity increased with 2.5%. Furthermore, the study highlights the potential of recycled polymer mortar as aggregates since enhanced tensile (18.5 and 3.9% respectively, for tensile splitting and flexural tensile strength) and impact properties (an improvement of 41.8%) were observed, while the additional tests indicate that the mixture with recycled aggregates has a less dense structure compared to the reference mixture.

The fatigue resistance, as a performance indicator, is of paramount importance for the selection and benchmarking of bituminous materials. The bituminous mortar can be considered as the medium that connects and envelopes the coarse aggregate skeleton, and hence will significantly influence the fatigue resistance at bulk-scale. Therefore this study presents the steps and challenges of a new testing framework to evaluate the fatigue resistance of bituminous mortars. To do so, first, a new test geometry is introduced, which will ensure cohesive failure in a predefined area. The integrity of this sample geometry is assessed theoretically through finite element simulations and by computer tomography scans. Secondly, specimens of the new geometry are evaluated experimentally using a dynamic shear rheometer, where time-sweep tests are performed on two control mortar types under various test conditions. The control mortar types are fabricated using two commercial bituminous binders, one modified and one neat binder, to evaluate the effect of binder type. The test results are comprehensively analysed using fundamental dissipated energy-based concepts but also empirical and phenomenological failure criteria, providing insights into the failure evolution. For the tested mortar types, the analysis shows good convergence with the considered fatigue models. Finally, using dissipated energy concepts led to the most consisted fatigue model, which is independent of binder type and test conditions.

Undoubtedly bitumen’s viscoelastic performance has received much attention in the literature. Especially, the oxidative ageing phenomenon of bitumen has been studied by several scholars from different physicochemical and mechanical perspectives due to its direct impact on asphalt performance. The microstructural patterns observed with ageing utilising different microscopic techniques have not remained unexplored, and an increasing interest has been expressed to understand the bitumen’s architecture by coupling it with different theories. This review aims to provide a useful guide for the road engineer by collecting all the existing microstructural trends that have been reported upon ageing by utilising some of the most promising microscopic techniques. The study demonstrates the changes being observed for the size of the so-called bee structures via Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The apparent fibril microstructure captured with Environmental Scanning Electron Microscopy (ESEM) consistently reported in the literature to become denser and coarser with ageing. The existing findings of Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM) revealed the conflicting observations that exist for the fluorescent centres of bitumen upon oxidation, concerning their size and number. Finally, this paper provides a comparative analysis of the three techniques for bitumen applications and recommends a systematic sample preparation protocol to move towards more consistent observations between the different research groups.

At the end of their service life, asphalt pavements exhibit distresses such as cracking and ravelling due to the aged bituminous binder. The recycling process of reclaimed asphalt should compensate for the deteriorated binder properties. The main objective of this binder study is to compare two common recycling strategies: the use of a softer binder and a rejuvenator. Three recycling percentages, 0%, 40% and 70% of reclaimed asphalt binder were evaluated. All binder blends were prepared with similar penetration and softening point values. In order to simulate binder performance during service life, ageing protocols by means of rolling thin film oven test and pressure ageing vessel were performed. The investigation included both mechanical and chemical tests. A dynamic shear rheometer was used to assess different rheological parameters over an extensive temperature range. Linear amplitude sweep tests were performed to estimate the fatigue resistance at intermediate temperatures. Resistance to permanent deformation was assessed with a multiple stress creep recovery test. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy was used to assess the formation of bonds that indicate oxidative ageing after the ageing protocols. Moreover, an optimised method was introduced to calculate the carbonyl index for rejuvenated binders, which also allows to detect the presence of a rejuvenator in a bituminous binder. The results show that the inclusion of rejuvenator results in similar rheological behaviour compared to the application of a soft binder. Furthermore, the rejuvenator improves binder fatigue life without reducing the performance at elevated temperatures.

With the increased use of reclaimed asphalt (RA), the ability of bituminous materials to resist fatigue cracking may face a decline mainly due to the aged reclaimed asphalt binder (RAB), especially when RA is used at higher rates and not sufficiently treated. In this study, the bulk scale (asphalt) and its subscale (mortar) were employed to evaluate the effect on fatigue resistance when a RAB is added, by considering three replacement rates: 0%, 40%, and 70% RAB. The fatigue testing of asphalt mixtures was carried out using a four-point bending (4PB) setup, while the mortars were tested using a new column-like geometry utilising a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The fatigue properties were further analysed using dissipated energy concepts. The aim of this study was, first, to assess whether the inclusion of a RAB can provide at least similar fatigue properties compared to an all-virgin mix, and second, to evaluate whether the proposed treatment is beneficial for the mixtures with a RAB. The asphalt tests revealed that the inclusion of a 40% RAB led to increased fatigue resistance, whereas the mortar tests showed that the inclusion of RAB has an inverse effect on fatigue life.

Transparent binder is used to substitute conventional black asphalt binder and to provide light-colored pavements, whereas nano-TiO2 has the potential to promote photocatalytic and self-cleaning properties. Together, these materials provide multifunction effects and benefits when the pavement is submitted to high solar irradiation. This paper analyzes the physicochemical and rheological properties of a transparent binder modified with 0.5%, 3.0%, 6.0%, and 10.0% nano-TiO2 and compares it to the transparent base binder and conventional and polymer modified binders (PMB) without nano-TiO2. Their penetration, softening point, dynamic viscosity, master curve, black diagram, Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS), Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were obtained. The transparent binders (base and modified) seem to be workable considering their viscosity, and exhibited values between the conventional binder and PMB with respect to rutting resistance, penetration, and softening point. They showed similar behavior to the PMB, demonstrating signs of polymer modification. The addition of TiO2 seemed to reduce fatigue life, except for the 0.5% content. Nevertheless, its addition in high contents increased the rutting resistance. The TiO2 modification seems to have little effect on the chemical functional indices. The best percentage of TiO2 was 0.5%, with respect to fatigue, and 10.0% with respect to permanent deformation., Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia—under the projects for Strategic Funding UIDB/04650/2020 and UIDB/04029/2020, and Nanobased concepts for Innovative and Eco-sustainable constructive material surfaces PTDC/FIS/120412/2010. Furthermore, we would like to thank the Industrial Research Fund (IOF) of the University of Antwerp for funding the PAPPoA project (IOF/SBO/41859/2020). Lastly, the first author would like to acknowledge FCT for the PhD scholarship (SFRH/BD/137421/2018)

Bitumen is one of the most important materials used in roads. During asphalt pavement construction, workers can be affected by emissions, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), when bitumen is heated. Therefore, it is crucial to correctly identify and measure VOCs. This paper presents a novel, promising method to determine VOC emissions. The proposed method offers a way to standardize routine measurements on a lab scale, enabling reliable comparison across bitumen types and their modifications or additives. A proton-transfer reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS) was used to monitor VOC emissions from commercial unmodified bitumen and crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) with heating of up to 180 °C. Results confirmed that the temperature range of 160–180 °C is a highly influential factor for VOC emissions from heated commercial bitumen and particularly CRMB. A significant increase in alkane and aromatic emission was detected when the binders were heated to 180 °C. Sulfur-containing VOCs were almost nonexistent for the base bitumen fumes, while a significant increase was detected in the fumes when two different types of CR were added to the bitumen, even at 120 °C. The additional CR in the bituminous binder contributed to the potentially harmful VOC emission of benzothiazole, which belongs to the class of sulfur-containing compounds. The concentration of benzothiazole was 65%, 38%, and 35% higher for CR1 in comparison to CR2 at 140, 160, and 180 °C, respectively. It is clear from the results that this method allows different bitumen sources or modifications to be quickly analyzed and their VOC emissions cross-compared. If adopted and confirmed further, the method could offer the asphalt industry a viable solution to monitor VOC emissions by analyzing samples in real time at different steps of the production process.