EVALUATION OF THE LOCAL ASPHALT PROPERTIES IMPROVEMENT UTLIZING THE PREPARED EPOXY RESINS DERIVED FROM VARIOUS BISPHENOLS.
Four distinct bisphenols and their corresponding low molecular weight epoxy resins (1, 2, 3, and 4) were synthesized and thoroughly and thoroughly propertiezed. Every resin was utilized as an additive, combined with a high-temperature hardener, to modify two types of locally available asphalt (designated M and N types) with varied constituents. The study assessed the performance of these epoxy resin-asphalt mixtures in enhancing critical properties such as penetration, softening point, penetration temperature susceptibility (PTT), and penetration index (PI). These improvements were analyzed based on factors like the quantity and type of epoxy resin used, the choice of hardener, and comparative results with a commercial epoxy resin (5) that incorporates a specified low-temperature hardener. The research aimed to identify optimal formulation conditions that deliver superior asphalt properties tailored for diverse applications. Results indicated that improved asphalt formulations incorporating epoxy resin 3 and hardener 1 yielded the highest values for softening point and penetration rating. These enhancements were significantly superior compared to the parent unmodified asphalt across both N and M types.