Project Summary
Modified asphalt binders have been used in Alaska to accommodate its various climatic conditions for years. Recently, several highly modified asphalts have attracted much attention including a highly-polymerized PG 64-40 binder used in downtown Anchorage to address rutting and wear concerns, and PG 52-40 adopted in several paving projects in the Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) Northern Region. In addition, the Northern Region is interested in the potential use of a colder low-temperature grade binder, such as PG 52-46, to suit its specific climatic conditions. However, data is lacking in terms of materials characterization and field performance monitoring of these modified asphalt binders and mixtures. This study is to address this research need by properly characterizing the performance of the abovementioned modified asphalt binders as well as the resulting hot mix asphalt (HMA) in both the laboratory and the field.
