Polymerized activating highly-dispersible waste tire powder for viscoelasticity regulation of modified asphalt at a lower mixing temperature

This work explored polymerization activating fine waste tire powder modified asphalt at a lower mixing temperature. Different from common temperatures of more than 190 °C, traditional waste tire powder could not achieve the excellent properties of modified asphalt at 170 °C. Through styrene and methyl methacrylate monomers polymerized on the surface of 400-mesh waste tire powder, polymerized waste tire powder was successfully fabricated through changes in morphology and surface potential. Polymerized waste tire powder modified asphalt was 15 wt%. It was determined by dynamic shear rheology and nanoindentation. The excellent dispersion of polymerized waste tire powder in asphalt was proved by fluorescence microscopy. Compared with waste tire powder modified asphalt, the hardness of polymerized waste tire powder modified asphalt decreased by 21.27 %, and the viscoelasticity decreased by 92.26 %. It indicated polymerized waste tire powder modified asphalt performed good hardness and viscoelasticity regulation. This work inspired a new idea for modified asphalt and reclaiming waste tires, which would have good economic and environmental benefits.