ASPHALT COMPOSITIONS AND METHODS OF MAKING SAME

• Main Authors: LUBBERS, Christopher M, PUCHALSKI, Sebastian, KLUTTZ, Robert Q, DUBOIS, Donn A, WILLIS, Carl, L, JELLEMA, Erica
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 13.01.2021
• Subjects: AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F,C08G; CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; COMPOSITIONS OF MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PREPARING CLAY; PRODUCING MIXTURES CONTAINING CLAY OR CEMENTITIOUS MATERIAL,e.g. PLASTER; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP; TRANSPORTING; WORKING CEMENT, CLAY, OR STONE; WORKING-UP

A coupled block copolymer composition with a combination of high viscosity at manufacturing, finishing and handling conditions, low viscosity at asphalt blending conditions and suitable viscosity stability is provided for use in asphalt compositions. The composition comprises: (i) a diblock copolymer, (ii) at least a linear triblock copolymer having a peak molecular weight that is 1.5 to 3.0 times the peak molecular weight of the diblock copolymer, and (iii) at least a multiarm coupled block copolymer having a peak molecular weight that is 1.5 to 9.0 times the peak molecular weight of the diblock copolymer, and mixtures thereof. The block copolymer composition is characterized as having a melt viscosity at 110° C. or less of greater than 2.0E7 Poise and a coupling efficiency after 24 hours at 180° C. is less than 25%.