Storage stability and mechanical properties of modified bitumen

U.К. YENSEGENOVA, Akkenzhe Bussurmanova, Anar Akkenzheyeva, Yerzhan I. Imanbayev

2026

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DOI 10.37878/2708-0080/2026-2.15
Data confidence 70 medium
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Abstract

This study evaluates the mechanical properties, storage stability, and dimensional stability of bitumen binders modified with partially vulcanized rubber (DVR), polyethylene (vPE – virgin and rPE – recycled), and Aerosil – silica (A). The study included ring and ball softening point, needle penetration, resilience, and elastic recovery tests, as well as an assessment of storage stability based on differences in the properties of the top and bottom halves after heat treatment. The results show that binders containing recycled polyethylene exhibit improved stiffness, increased dimensional stability, and higher elastic recovery compared to pure polyethylene-based systems. The addition of Aerosil significantly improves structural stability, reduces the softening point difference between the top and bottom halves by up to five times, and reduces phase separation during storage. Mechanical testing showed that DVR-rPE+A binders absorb 10-20% more deformation energy and retain elastic recovery values above 70-80%, indicating improved resistance to permanent deformation. Overall, the DVR-rPE-A system demonstrates the most balanced combination of mechanical strength, storage stability, and thermal performance. In addition to performance advantages, the use of recycled polyethylene provides economic and environmental benefits, facilitating the development of environmentally friendly, high-performance bitumen materials for road surfaces.