The main objective of this research study was to formulate and deduce aging indices and parametric models with asphaltene as a performance indicator using virgin and modified asphalt binders. The estimated asphaltene content of binders increased from unaged to short-term and subsequently to long-term aged condition. Also, modified binders had higher asphaltene contents than virgin binders. Asphaltene content was found to be a truly valuable aging performance assessor to investigate asphalt binder aging characteristics in a rational manner. Asphalt aging parametric models were developed using asphaltene content and fundamental binder properties, which were mathematically robust. The parametric models precisely predicted rational aging performance of asphalt binders at different aging combinations. A final binder aging predictive model was recommended that relates short- and long-term aging conditions, which had excellent rational correlations. A novel approach was taken in this study that synergized asphalt binder rheological properties and aging performance criteria specifically incorporating asphaltene, which is a chemical parametric indicator pertinent to asphalt aging characterization and evaluation.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.