Polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate/waste engine oil modified asphalt: Performance and modification mechanism

Currently, isocyanate modified asphalt (IMA) has gradually attracted attention in the pavement field due to its good mechanical properties and environmental benefits. However, there also exists some challenges, such as high viscosity and poor low-temperature performance, for its further application. In this study, an environmentalfriendly potential solving method is proposed by employing waste engine oil (WEO) as a co-modifier with polyaryl polymethylene isocyanate (PAPI). And the effect and modification mechanism of WEO and PAPI on neat asphalt are studied. Specifically, the optimal compositions of PAPI/WEO modified asphalt (PWMA) were firstly determined by learning the effects of the PAPI and WEO amounts on the viscosity, high- and low- temperature performance of neat asphalt. Then, the traditional physical properties, storage stability and aging resistance of PWMA and SBS modified asphalt (SBSMA) were analyzed and compared. Finally, the performance improvement mechanism of PWMA was detected by microscopic analyses. The result shows that adopting WEO as a kind of comodifier can prepare excellent performance modified asphalt with PAPI. The prepared PWMA qualifies similar viscosity and high- and low- temperature performance to SBSMA, while has the better storage stability and aging resistance. Microscopic test results reveal that in the PWMA, PAPI reacts chemically with the neat asphalt to generate carbamate or urea macromolecular products, while WEO mainly plays the role of adsorbent and filler. These findings are significant for guiding the performance regulation of IMA by the environmental-friendly method.