Rheological modeling of the linear viscoelastic behavior of maltenes mixed with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) block copolymer

• Published in: Polymer bulletin (Berlin, Germany) Vol. 81; no. 14; pp. 12777 - 12794
• Main Authors: Medina-Torres, L., Núñez-Ramírez, D. M., González Laredo, R. F., González Lozano, M. A., Alonso, S., Zitzumbo, R., Gallegos-Infante, J. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.09.2024; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Asphalt pavements; Block copolymers; Butadiene; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Complex Fluids and Microfluidics; Elastomers; Loss modulus; Maltenes; Mechanical properties; Microscopy; Modelling; Molecular weight; Morphology; Organic Chemistry; Original Paper; Physical Chemistry; Physical properties; Polymer blends; Polymer Sciences; Polymers; Rheological properties; Rheology; Shear tests; Soft and Granular Matter; Styrenes; Temperature; Thermomechanical properties; Viscoelasticity; United Kingdom > UK; Rheological modeling; Elastomer SBS; Rheology; Linear viscoelasticity; Maltenes
• ISSN: 0170-0839; 1436-2449
• DOI: 10.1007/s00289-024-05320-y

An analysis and modeling of the linear viscoelastic behavior of maltenes (M) blended with styrene–butadiene–styrene block copolymer (SBS) are presented in this study. M were mixed with different amounts of SBS (Elastomer, E ) (0.25–80 wt%) to investigate the effect of polymer concentration on linear viscoelastic response of the blends; storage and loss moduli were obtained from small amplitude oscillatory shear tests (SAOS). Time–temperature superposition master curves were analyzed by a Maxwell multi-modal model with up to nine relaxation times. Han, Cole–Cole and Van Gurp-Palmen diagrams were prepared from the rheological data. Two different responses were observed: At low E contents, a dispersed system rheological response was observed and verified by microscopy with elastomer as the dispersed phase and maltenes as the matrix, while at high E content the response was that of a co-continuous system. Mixtures with E  > 2 wt% exhibited change in their thermomechanical properties with a phase inversion at E  > 50 wt%. Furthermore, at low E concentration resins stabilize the dispersed phase by diminishing the magnitude of the viscoelastic moduli, conversely, at high E concentration a swelled polymer-rich phase creates a network that significantly influences of the viscoelastic properties.