International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET)
Volume 10, Issue 04, April 2019, pp. 181-187, Article ID: IJCIET_10_04_019
Available online at http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316
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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF CONVENTIONAL
AND EPOXY MODIFIED BITUMINOUS MIX
Sumesh Sharma
Me Student of Chandigarh University Gharuan Mohali (Civil Department)
Er. Avani Chopra
Assistant Professor of Chandigarh University Gharuan Mohali (Civil Department)
ABSTRACT
The efficacious way to increase the life time of asphalt mix pavement subjected to
traffic load is the modification of bitumen with the thermosetting polymers. In this study
epoxy resin is used for the modification of bitumen. The epoxy resin added in different
% in the bitumen mix (that’s 1, 2, 3, 3.25, 3.5, 3.75& 4) and the test result of modified
and unmodified mix are compared by the marshal test. The properties of the mix
evaluated by the marshal are stability, flow, air voids, volume of mineral aggregates &
void filled with bitumen. The optimum content of epoxy resin to be added in the bitumen
mix is 3.25% as per marshal test. The softening point and penetration test is conducted
on the modified and unmodified bitumen and the test results of the modified bitumen
are better as compared to unmodified bitumen.
Key words: Epoxy resin, marshal test, softening point, penetration value, Asphalt.
Cite this Article: Sumesh Sharma and Er. Avani Chopra, Comparative Study of
Conventional and Epoxy Modified Bituminous Mix., International Journal of Civil
Engineering and Technology, 10(04), 2019, pp. 181–187
http://www.iaeme.com/IJCIET/issues.asp?JType=IJCIET&VType=10&IType=04
1 INTRODUCTION
In India the actual duration of bituminous pavement is (5- 10) years instead of design life
untimely repair and rehabilitation of pavement needs additional cost which will directly
increase the construction cost of pavement. The one of tshe main reason of quick deterioration
of the pavement in condition of adverse climatic factor and heavy traffic loads is bitumen
properties. From all the materials of road construction bitumen is more sensory to adverse
climatic factor due to its thermoplastic properties bitumen is softened at high temperatures
(summers) and it becomes brittle at low temperatures (winters) which leads to the formation
deformation in pavement. Such as (Ruts, cracks, potholes and pits on the pavement) the most
efficacious way to increase the properties of bitumen is the addition of different additives
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Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi
particularly by polymer the use of thermosetting polymer epoxy resin as a modifier in a bitumen
is a great solution for that.
Epoxy resin are the thermosetting polymer where resin molecule contain one or more
epoxide groups which are formed by the copolymerization of an epoxide groups with another
compound having two hydroxyl group and mostly used in coating and adhesives. These resins
are characterized by their strength or hardness
China began to apply and study polymer concrete in the middle of 20th century. However
in our country the research on epoxy resin is on physical and mechanical properties of the
material.
2 MATERIALS
2.1. Bitumen
In this study the VG 40 grade is used to prepare the samples for experiment as per (IRC: 1112009)
2.2. Fine aggregates
In this study fine aggregates are taken as per IS - 383 and the aggregates should be clean, dry,
durable, hard and free from deterous material.
2.3. Coarse aggregates
The coarse aggregates was used as per MORTH specifications
Table 1: Test results of aggregates:Name of test
Impact test
Los angles abrasion test
Water absorption
Specific gravity test
Coarse aggregates
Fine aggregates
Crushing strength test
Test results
15.5 %
20.45 %
1.09 %
Acceptance limits
24 % max (MORTH)
30 % max (MORTH)
2 % max (MORTH)
2.77
2.65
19.40 %
2.5-3.0 (MORTH)
2.5-3.0 (MORTH)
30 % max (BIS & IRC)
2.4. Fillers
The fillers a used in this study was as per MORTH specification.
2.5. Epoxy resin
In this study epoxy resin used was in powder form.
3. PREPARATION OF MIX
The preparation of conventional asphalt mix is done by using traditional technology
The epoxy asphalt mix may include the following steps: Batching and mixing of coarse aggregates, fine aggregates and fillers acc to the
grading required.
 Heat the mixture of aggregates acc to the required temperature.
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Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project

Introduce the epoxy resin into the bitumen which is heated to the required
temperature followed by the mixing by (5- 10) minutes
 Introduce the epoxy modified bitumen into the mixture of heated aggregates ,
followed by mixing
After the preparation of mix the specimens of different percentages of epoxy added asphalt
are prepared for the marshal test. For each percentage three specimens are prepared to take the
mean value of specimens.
4. MARSHAL APPARATUS
An automatic electrically operated device was used to test the specimen the compacted samples
are placed in Marshal Apparatus and the stability and flow value of the specimens was
calculated.
4.1. Test procedure
Acc to (ASTM D 6927- 15) each of the test specimen was subjected to the following test
Stability and flow determination, air voids, VMA & VFB
4.2. Test results
Table 2: Marshal Stability, flow, VA, VMA and VFB values for epoxy modified bitumen mix at
optimum bitumen content 5%
Percentage
0
1
2
3
3.25
3.50
3.75
4
Range as per
MORTH
specification
VA (%)
5.69
7.13
6.65
6.27
5.01
6.43
6.56
7.75
VMA (%)
17.45
18.52
18.16
18.16
17.09
17.80
18.52
19.58
VFB (%)
67.39
61.50
63.36
65.47
70.68
63.87
64.57
60.41
Stability(kg)
2284.12
2335.11
2416.6
2467.6
2508.46
2437.08
2273.9
2233.14
Flow(mm)
2.10
2.21
2.36
2.42
2.55
2.56
2.67
2.72
3-6
Min 11
65-75
>900
2-4
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Stablity
Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi
2550
2500
2450
2400
2350
2300
2250
2200
2150
2100
2050
stablity (Kg)
1
2
3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content %
Figure 1: Effect of epoxy resin on stability of bitumen mix
3
flow value
2.5
2
1.5
flow value
1
0.5
0
1
2
3 3.25 3.5 3.75 4
Epoxy content
Figure 2: Effect of epoxy resin on flow value of bitumen mix
9
8
7
VA
6
5
4
VA
3
2
1
0
1
2
3
3.25
3.5
3.75
4
Epoxy content %
Figure 3: Effect of epoxy resin on air voids of bitumen mix
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Factors Inhibiting Stakeholder Management of Mega Construction Project
20
19.5
19
VMA
18.5
18
17.5
VMA
17
16.5
16
15.5
1
2
3
3.25 3.5 3.75
4
Epoxy content %
Figure 4: Effect of epoxy resin on volume of mineral aggregates of bitumen mix
Figure 5: Effect of epoxy resin on voids filled with bitumen of bitumen mix
4.3. Softening point:-This test is performed acc (IS: 1205-1978)
Table 3: Test results of softening point of modified bitumen
Softening point in (˚C)
53
54
56
58
59
59
60
61
%age of bitumen replaced by epoxy
0
1
2
3
3.25
3.5
3.75
4
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Opeyemi Oyeyipo, Henry Odeyinka, James Owolabi and Adedeji Afolabi
Figure 6: Effect of epoxy content on softening point of bitumen
4.4. Penetration test:-This test is performed acc to (IS: 1203-1978)
Table 4 Test result of penetration value of modified bitumen
%age of bitumen replaced by epoxy
0
1
2
3
3.25
3.5
3.75
4
Penetration value in (mm)
49
47
46
44
43
43
41
40
penetration value in (mm)
60
50
40
30
penetration value
in (mm)
20
10
0
0
1
2
3
3.25 3.5 3.75
4
Epoxy content %
Figure 7: Effect of epoxy resin on penetration value of bitumen
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5. CONCLUSIONS
After adding the epoxy content into the bitumen will enhance the properties of bitumen it will
increase the softening point of bitumen which means that bitumen should not be softened at
higher temperature during summers.
The penetration value of bitumen is decreased should not became brittle at lower
temperatures which should leads to reduce in deformation and distresses in pavement.
After comparing the test results of modified and unmodified bitumen it was observed that
the stability and flow value of modified bitumen is more as compared to unmodified bitumen.
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