• The composition of bitumen affects the storage stability of hot SBS modified bitumens.• Aromatic content of 40% and solid phase volume lower than 22% improve the stability.• The increase of solid phase content hinders the dispersion of the SBS rich phase.• Changes of the physical properties at 160 e C are related to the biphasic morphology.
Keywords:SBS copolymer Polymer modified bitumen Thermal stability Phase separation Structure Polymer modified bitumens, PMBs, are usually prepared at high temperature and subsequently stored for a period of time, also at high temperature. The stability of PMBs, in these conditions, has a decisive influence in order to obtain the adequate performances for practical applications. In this article the attention is focused in the analysis of the factors that determine the stability of styrene-butadienestyrene copolymer (SBS)/sulfur modified bitumens when the mixtures are maintained at high temperature. Bitumens from different crude oil sources were used to prepare SBS/sulfur modified bitumens. Changes in the values of viscosity, softening point, as well as in the morphology of PMB samples, stored at 160 °C, were related to the bitumen chemical composition and to the amount of asphaltene micelles present in the neat bitumen used in their preparation.
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