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Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering

International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845

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Physical and rheological properties of modified sulfur asphalt binder

S.A. Elkholy, A.M.M. Abd El-Rahman, M. El-Shafie, Z.L. Abo-Shanab ⇑
Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute (E.P.R.I.), Petroleum Applications Department, Asphalt Lab., Egypt

Received 5 December 2016; received in revised form 12 June 2018; accepted 30 July 2018

Abstract

In this study, asphalt binder was partially substituted with different percentages of modified sulfur (20%, 30%, and 40 wt%) to give
20/80, 30/70, and 40/60 sulfur asphalt (S/A) mixtures. The physical properties including softening point, viscosity, penetration, and duc-
tility were examined to characterize the consistency of S/A mixtures. Characterizing the rheological properties of modified asphalt bin-
ders is also highly recommended for the prediction of the major pavement damages such as rutting, and cracking. The laboratory studies
were conducted to examine the viscoelastic properties of modified sulfur asphalt binder using dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA), and
Brookfield rotational viscometer tests. It was concluded that modified sulfur substituted asphalt mixtures had higher resistance against
cracking of the pavement at low temperatures, and least permanent (plastic) deformation at high temperatures.
Ó 2018 Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Keywords: DMA; Modified sulfur; Modulus; Rotational viscosity; Loss modulus

1. Introduction roads damaged by traffic and frost action. It was recog-

nized that for this application, the material should be suf-
In recent years the availability of large quantities of ele- ficiently fluid to self-compact and be able to form a good
mental sulfur in the world has generated a resurgence of bond with the substrate. Therefore the aim of this research
interest in the utilization of sulfur in construction materials is to study the rheological behavior of modified sulfur
[13,32,24,10]. Numerous investigations have been under- asphalt binder to predict the major distresses that could
taken and patents filed on sulfur-asphalt systems occur in hot mixed asphalt (HMA) pavement such as rut-
[13,32,11,28,23], in which sulfur was distributed as discrete ting, and cracking. Recently, several researchers have used
particles acting to improve fluidity for compaction when DMA to perform the dynamic mechanical analysis of
molten and as filler when solidified. It was considered that asphalt binders Silvia Caroa et al. [29], asphalt mastics,
a sulfur-asphalt composite could be produced in which the and HMA mixtures. For example, Hossain and Zaman
sulfur would form an interconnected network, thus giving [16] established a DMA-based protocol to obtain G* and
the system additional structural rigidity. Such a composite d of both unmodified and polymer-modified PG binders.
could have interesting possibilities as a repair material for William [35] uses DMA to characterize the aging of asphalt
binder. He estimate the critical temperature, Tc from the
cross-over temperature at which G00 equals G0 at a fre-
⇑ Corresponding author at: Asphalt Laboratory in Petroleum Applica-
quency of 10 rad/s and chosen as a criterion to assess the
tions Department, Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute ‘‘EPRI”, 1
advancement of hardening (aging). DMA was found to
Ahmed El-Zomor Street, El-Zohour Region, Nasr City, Cairo 11727,
Egypt. be efficient and reliable in assessing the fatigue and healing
E-mail address: dr_zeinab@epri.sci.eg (Z.L. Abo-Shanab). characteristics of asphalt mastic and HMA mixtures, and
Peer review under responsibility of Chinese Society of Pavement evaluating the rate of damage accumulation in mastics in
Engineering.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijprt.2018.07.005
1996-6814/Ó 2018 Chinese Society of Pavement Engineering.
This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845 839

the studies performed by Kim et al. [19] and Lytton et al. asphalt binder, without the evolving of any gases such as
[21]. The temperature sensitivity on asphalt binders can H2S(Hydrogen sulfide gases).
be examined by performing temperature sweep tests
[7,37]. Temperature sweep tests on an asphalt binder 2.2.3. Physical tests of modified sulfur asphalt mixture
approximate a temperature at which it will satisfy the rut- 2.2.3.1. Penetration test. The standardized procedure for
ting factor specified by the Superpave. DMA was found to this test can be found in [6]. It is an empirical test which
be an efficient tool to perform dynamic mechanical proper- measures the consistency (hardness) of asphalt at a speci-
ties of biomodified asphalt binders, Zhai et al. [37] have fied test condition. In the standard test condition, a stan-
performed temperature sweep tests to obtain the set points dard needle of a total load of 100 g is applied to the
(the temperature at which storage modulus, G0 = loss mod- surface of an asphalt sample at a temperature of 25 °C
ulus, G00 ) of emulsified asphalt binders. The temperature for 5 s. The amount of penetration of the needle at the
susceptibility of selected asphalt binders under short-term end of 5 s is measured in units of 0.1 mm (or penetration
and long term aged conditions was predicted in the study unit).
performed by Clyne and Marasteanu [7] by using a
dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). In this study, asphalt bin- 2.2.3.2. Ring & ball softening point test. The ring and ball
der was substituted, by a ratio reached to 40%, with mod- softening point test [3] measures the temperature at which
ified sulfur. The rheological properties of the prepared the asphalt reaches certain softness. When the asphalt is
mixtures were studied using DMA at which temperature at its softening point temperature, it has approximately a
sweep test was conducted from – 40 °C to 80 °C on sulfur penetration of 800 or an absolute viscosity of 13,000 poises.
asphalt binder to study the behavior of the mixture at high This conversion is only approximate and can vary from
and low temperatures using these parameters complex asphalt to another, due to the non-Newtonian nature of
modulus G*, G*/sindelta (Rutting factor) and tan d. In asphalts and the different shear rates used by these different
addition, the conventional tests including softening point, methods. The softening point temperature can be used
penetration, and ductility were conducted. As well as the along with the penetration to determine the temperature
rotational viscosity of the mixtures was measured in tem- susceptibility of asphalt. Temperature susceptibility of
perature range of 20–150 °C. asphalt is often expressed as given in (Eq. (1):

2. Materials and methods M ¼ ½log ðP 2 Þ  logðP 1 Þ=ðt2  t1 Þ ð1Þ

where: M = temperature susceptibility; t1, t2 = tempera-
2.1. Materials tures in °C; p1 = penetration at t1; p2 = penetration at t2.
Since the asphalt has approximately a penetration of 800
In all experimental tests the elementary sulfur was at the softening point temperature, the softening point tem-
obtained from (E-Chem. Company, Cairo, Egypt) as perature can be used along with the penetration at 25 °C to
byproduct with 99.9% purity, bitumen 60/70 paving determine the temperature susceptibility as represented in
asphalt was obtained from the Suez Company, and olefinic (Eq. (2)):
hydrocarbons C5 byproducts of Alex petroleum distillates

company, Egypt. ½log pen at 25A^  C  log ð800Þ
M¼ ð2Þ
25  S:P :temp:
2.2. Methods
The M computed in this manner can then be used to
2.2.1. Preparation of modified sulfur compute a Penetration Index (PI) as in Eq. (3).
In an oil bath, 10 wt% mix of 7% residual olefinic hydro- PI ¼ ð20  500MÞ=ð1 þ 50MÞ ð3Þ
carbons obtained from petroleum distillate fractions
C5 + 3% bituminous residue and 90 wt% of molten sulfur The Penetration Index is an indicator of the temperature
were mechanically mixed at a controlled temperature of susceptibility of the asphalt. A high PI indicates low tem-
145 °C for almost 3 hours. The modified sulfur was charac- perature susceptibility. Normal asphalt cements have a PI
terized in more details in Souaya [31]. between 2 and +2. Asphalt cements with a PI of more
than +2 are of low temperature susceptibility, while those
2.2.2. Partial substitution of asphalt binder 60/70 with with a PI of less than 2 are of excessively high tempera-
modified sulfur ture susceptibility.
Asphalt binder was partially substituted with different 2.2.3.2.1. Flash point test. The flash point test determines
percentages of modified sulfur (20%, 30%, and 40 wt%), the temperature to which the asphalt can be safely heated
and each sample was mechanically mixed with high shear in the presence of an open flame. The test is performed
rate for at least 30 minutes to attain the required compat- by heating an asphalt sample in an open cup at a specified
ibility at a temperature above the melting point of the mod- rate and determining the temperature at which a small
ified sulfur (120 °C) but that doesn’t exceed 140 °C. At that flame passing over the surface of the cup will cause the
temperature range, the sulfur is completely distributed in vapors from the asphalt sample temporarily to ignite or
840 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845

flash. The commonly-used flash point test method is the

Cleveland Open Cup [5].
2.2.3.2.2. Ductility test. The ductility test [2] measures
the distance a standard asphalt sample will stretch without
breaking under a standard testing condition (5) cm/min at
25 °C). It is generally considered that asphalt with a very
low ductility will have poor adhesive properties and thus
poor performance in service.

2.2.4. Rheological tests of modified sulfur asphalt mixture

2.2.4.1. Brookfield rotational viscometer test. Brookfield
rotational viscometer test as specified by ASTM D4402
[4] was used for measuring the viscosity of binders as
shown in Fig. 1, the test binder sample is held in a
Fig. 2. Shear mode with dual sample.
temperature-controlled cylindrical sample chamber, and a
cylindrical spindle 25, which is submerged in the sample,
is rotated at a specified constant speed. The torque that mechanical analyzer) in which the controlled-strain test is
is required to maintain the constant rotational speed is normally used. In TTDMA rheometer test, the clamp com-
measured and used to calculate the dynamic viscosity, as ponents are fitted as shown in Fig. 2. The samples should
compared with the capillary tube viscometers, the rota- be mounted in pairs, with a diameter from 2 to 10 mm
tional viscometer provides larger clearances between the and thickness should not be greater than 2 mm. The drive
components. Therefore, it can be used to test modified shaft is oscillated by a precision motor with a controlled
asphalts containing larger particles, which could plug up angular velocity, w. The applied force is calculated from
a capillary viscometer tube. The readings were taken every recording the input signal to the electro-magnet coils in
0.5 min. The temperature range is starting from 20 °C to the driver. The displacement is measured with a Linear
150 °C to study the effect of sulfur on asphalt binder flow Variable differential transformer. From the measured tor-
at room temperature 25 °C and high temperature 135 °C. que and angle of rotation, the shear stress and shear strain
2.2.4.1.1. Dynamic mechanical analyzer (DMA) test. can be calculated. The oscillatory strain, c, is expressed in
Various forms of (DMA) are used to measure the rheolog- (Eq. (4).
ical properties of bituminous binders, usually by means of c ¼ c0 sin wt ð4Þ
oscillatory type shear mode. The principle used with the
DMA is to apply sinusoidal, oscillatory stresses and strains where: co = peak shear strain; w = angular velocity in
to a thin disc of bitumen, which is sandwiched between the radian/second; t = time (s).
two parallel plates of the DMA. The shear stress, s, can be expressed in Eq. (5) as:
The test can be either stress or strain-controlled, s ¼ s0 sin ðwt þ dÞ ð5Þ
depending on which of these variables is controlled by
the test apparatus. In this research the tests were carried where: so = peak shear stress; d = phase shift angle.
out in TTDMA apparatus (Triton technology dynamic SHRP standardized the dynamic shear rheometer test
for its usage in measuring the asphalt properties at high
and intermediate service temperatures for specification pur-
poses. In the standardized test method [1], the oscillation
speed is specified to be 10 (radian/second). The amplitude
of shear strain to be used depends on the stiffness of the
binder, and varies from 1% for hard materials tested at
low temperatures to 13% for relatively softer materials
tested at high temperatures.

3. Results and discussion

3.1. Physical properties of sulfur asphalt mixtures

In this study, asphalt binder has been partially substi-

tuted with different percentages of modified sulfur and
these are: 20%, 30%, and 40 wt% to give 0/100, 20/80,
30/70, and 40/60 sulfur asphalt mixtures. The conventional
Fig. 1. Rotational viscometer test. test methods such as softening point, penetration, and
 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845 841

ductility have been examined to characterize sulfur asphalt

mixtures performance. The physical properties of the
resulting mixtures are summarized in Table 1. According
to the obtained data, increasing sulfur content from 20%
to 40% causes an increase in softening point, and a decrease
in penetration at 25 °C. This is due to the reaction of sulfur
with naphthenes-aromatics moiety in asphalt that are par-
tially transformed into polar-aromatics, mainly polysul-
fides Petrossi et al., [25]. It was stated by Qarles and
Vlugter [26] that sulfur reacts not only with hydrocarbons
but also with organic compounds. For example, sulfur
reacts with indole to simultaneously form polysulfides.
Therefore, the change in the chemical structure of asphalt
caused by introducing sulfur involves a change of its col-
loidal structure that has resulted in the increase of the
asphaltenes/resins ratio which causes the structure to be Fig. 3. Brookfield rotational viscosity of sulfur asphalt mixtures at a wide
changed into the gel structure. It was stated by Lu et al. temperature range of 20–150 °C.
[20] that lower values of PI indicate higher temperature sus-
ceptibility, and asphalt mixtures with higher PI are more
resistant to low temperature cracking as well as permanent workability of binder at 60 °C and above 120 °C to study
deformation. According to the obtained PI data shown in the rheology of binder at the temperature of mixing with
Table 1, the PI value of 40/60 sulfur asphalt mixture is aggregate and above sulfur melting temperature.
0.9 which is ten times larger than that of the base bitumen, At low temperatures, S/A mixtures give higher viscosi-
indicating a ten times slower bitumen consistency loss. This ties above that exhibited by the base asphalt binder. The
behavior stems from the very low temperature susceptibil- increase in viscosity appears to be maximized in the tem-
ity of the added sulfur which has a polymeric nature. That perature range of 25–60 °C below sulfur melting tempera-
will result in a higher resistance against thermal cracking of ture. This is due to the reaction of polymeric sulfur with
the pavement at low temperatures, and lower permanent naphthenes-aromatics moiety in asphalt that is partially
(plastic) deformation at high temperatures. transformed into polar-aromatics, mainly polysulfides Pet-
rossi et al. [25].
While at high temperatures >120 °C, the viscosity for
3.2. Brookfield rotational viscosity of sulfur asphalt mixtures binders containing dispersed sulfur has dropped below that
of the same asphalt, and the viscosity of the 40/60 (S/A)
The physical structure of a sulfur/asphalt (S/A) mixture mixture has been lowered by a factor of 1.6 than that of
is complex. In addition to asphalt itself consists of a base asphalt binder, allowing a reduction in power con-
complex colloidal dispersion of resins and asphaltenes in sumption by decreasing temperature of binder heating
oils, introduction of sulfur, which on cooling congeals into and asphalt concrete mix preparation. Therefore, 40% sul-
finely dispersed crystalline sulfur particles and in part fur substitution of asphalt allows heat energy saving of
reacts with the asphalt, necessarily complicates the rheol- paving asphalt without deterioration in the characteristics
ogy of such a S/A mixture. Measurements made with of the resulting asphalt concrete. These results agreed with
Brookfield rotational viscometer allow to predict real field the results of the previous work studied by Vitaliy Glad-
performance of the binder under the operational condi- kikh et al. [34] and Deme et al. [9]. The decrease in the kine-
tions. The dynamic viscosity of the prepared sulfur asphalt matic viscosity at 135 °C is due to the partial
mixtures has been determined over a wide temperature decomposition of polysulfides to form a polysulfide with
range; 20–150 °C as shown in Fig. 3. A wide range of a lower degree of polymerization and free sulfur. It has
temperatures was chosen to study the effect of sulfur on been shown by Qarles and Vlugter [26] that cleavages are

Table 1
Physical properties of base binder and sulfur asphalt mixtures.
Characteristics ASTM Standard Sulfur/asphalt mixtures
Sulfur/Asphalt content (wt%) 0/100 20/80 30/70 40/60
Penetration at 25 °C, 100 g (0.1 mm) D 5 62 50 45.5 40.1
Softening point (ring and ball) °C D 36 50 56 59 62
Specific gravity (at 25 °C) D 2041 1.02 1.025 1.0537 1.071
Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup) °C D 92 +250 +250 +250 +250
Ductility (@ 25 °C , 5 cm/min.) cm D 113 +150 +150 +150 +150
Penetration Index 0.7 0.309 0.6 0.9
842 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845

not affecting the newly formed bonds between sulfur and

carbon atoms that are investigated by sulfur isotopes.

3.3. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA)

In this research, a complete study on the effect of high

and low temperatures on the behavior of sulfur asphalt
mixtures has been illustrated as follows.

3.3.1. Studying the high temperature behavior of sulfur

asphalt mixtures
A temperature sweep has been applied over the range of
20–80 °C at a fixed angular velocity of 10 rad/s and 12.5%
strain to ensure measurement in the linear region. All the
samples have been held at a defined, constant temperature
for 10 min, and then the temperature has been varied in
2 °C increments. Various viscoelastic parameters, such as
Fig. 5. Tan delta of sulfur asphalt mixture at temperature range
G0 (storage shear modulus), G00 (Loss shear modulus), of 20–80 °C.
and tan d have been collected automatically from DMA
test. The complex shear modulus G* has been calculated
from G0 and G00 as shown in Eq. (6) shows the results of tan d of sulfur asphalt mixtures against
pffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffiffi temperature at the frequency of 10 rad/s. It has been
G ¼ G0 2 þ G}2 ð6Þ noticed that sulfur asphalt mixtures give a more decrease
in the value of tand at 40 °C than base asphalt binder;
The temperature (20–70 °C) dependency of complex
the decreasing extent of tan d becomes greater when sulfur
shear modulus (G*) for the base asphalt binder and the dif-
ratio increases. This trend reveals the increase in elastic
ferent contents of sulfur asphalt mixtures are shown in
properties of the sulfur asphalt mixtures. It was stated by
Fig. 4. The obtained results indicate that sulfur asphalt
Goodrich [14], and Vishnu Radhakrishnan [33] that a
mixtures show an increase in the G* compared to the base
low tan d value of the binder tends to correlate with high
bitumen.
rutting resistance. Thus, a low tan d value of the sulfur
Measurement of phase angle (delta) is generally consid-
asphalt mixture is desirable to reduce rutting potential as
ered to be more sensitive to the chemical and physical
stated by Yong-Joon Lee et al. [36].
structure of the modified asphalt binder than complex
In the Superpave asphalt specification, the visco-elastic
modulus. The reduction in tan d value exhibits a more elas-
parameters (G0 , G00 , and tand) have been used to compute
tic behavior of asphalt binder Jianying et al. [18]. Fig. 5
G*/sin d. It is known that the temperature of the asphalt
binders when G*/sind is equal to 1 KPa is defined as a cri-
terion for the high temperature performance of asphalt bin-
der in SHRP (Strategic Highway Research Program) tests
[12,27]. Plots of G*/sind versus temperature are displayed
in Fig. 6. The results reveal that the maximum anticipated
temperature is improved when asphalt binder is substituted
by 40% sulfur. The resulting temperatures, from the testing
data obtained, of sulfur/asphalt mixtures: 0/100, 20/80,
30/70, and 40/60 are determined as 52 °C, 58 °C, 64 °C,
and 70 °C respectively. This indicates that the sulfur
asphalt mixtures have a higher performance grade (PG)
than base binder. It is also known that higher G*/sin d val-
ues correlate with higher rutting resistance (permanent
deformation). Hence, sulfur/asphalt mixtures would have
higher rutting resistance than base binder that agree with
results of Jacques Colange [17].

3.3.1.1. Studying the low temperature behavior of sulfur

asphalt mixtures. Another critical condition of an asphalt
binder is at the lowest pavement temperature, at which
Fig. 4. Complex modulus of sulfur asphalt mixtures at temperature range the asphalt mixture is the weakest and most susceptible
of 20–80 °C. to crack when stressed. The low temperature behavior of
 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845 843

Fig. 8. The dynamic viscosity of sulfur asphalt mixtures at low temper-

ature ranges.
Fig. 6. G*/sin delta of sulfur asphalt mixtures at temperature range of
20–80 °C.

modulus and dynamic viscosity values increase with

sulfur/ asphalt mixtures has been studied by using DMA increasing sulfur content. This can be explained by the
test at which the temperature sweep has been applied over hardness of polysulfide present in the structure of sulfur
the range of – 40 °C to 20 °C. Various viscoelastic param- asphalt mixtures. The data of dynamic viscosity shown in
eters, such as G0 (storage shear modulus), G00 (Loss shear Fig. 8 confirmed that the viscosity of sulfur asphalt mix-
modulus), and tan d have been collected automatically tures at the lowest anticipated temperature is kept lower
from the DMA test, and the complex shear modulus G* than the limiting value of 2 * 1010 poises of low tempera-
has been calculated from G0 and G00 as shown previously ture cracking Davis [8]. Accordingly, the low temperature
in Eq. (6). Moreover, the dynamic viscosity g* has been cracking would be unlikely to occur in sulfur asphalt mix-
computed as shown in Eq. (7) by considering that sulfur/ tures. The effects of the elastic property of asphalt binder
asphalt mixtures are modeled by a Maxwell model with a on low-temperature cracking can be also understood by
complex shear modulus of G* and a viscosity of g*. analyzing how a viscoelastic material modeled by a Max-
Dynamic Viscosity; g ¼ G =w ð7Þ well model with a shear modulus of G and a viscosity of
g would release its stress after it is subjected to a forced
From the DMA data shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it is strain co that could be caused by a sudden drop in pave-
noticed that sulfur asphalt mixtures have higher complex ment temperature. If the material is subjected to a forced
moduli and dynamic viscosities at low temperatures than strain of co at t = 0, the instantaneous induced stress would
those of the base asphalt binder. Furthermore, complex be equal to coG, but the stress will decrease with time
according to the following expression:

s ¼ c0 GeGt=g ð8Þ

It can be seen that the rate of stress release is propor-

tional to G/g. The reciprocal of this parameter, g/G, is com-
monly known as the relaxation time. To maximize the rate
of relaxation, it is desirable to have a low relaxation time,
g/G, or a higher G/g. The parameter tand as obtained from
the dynamic shear rheometer (DMA) test is directly pro-
portional to G/g. Thus, high tand value would be desirable
to reduce the potential for low-temperature pavement
cracking. As shown in Fig. 9, sulfur asphalt mixtures have
higher tan d than that of base binder which confirms the
effect of sulfur on reducing the potential for low tempera-
ture pavement cracking.
Moreover, the experimental data showed that tan d of
Fig. 7. The complex modulus of sulfur asphalt mixtures at low temper- an asphalt binder decreases with decreasing temperature.
ature ranges. Goodrich [15] stated that, the temperature at which tan d
 844 S.A. Elkholy et al. / International Journal of Pavement Research and Technology 11 (2018) 838-845

2. The penetration index (PI) values were increased from

0.7 (base asphalt) to 0.9 for (40/60 S/A) binder con-
firmed that S/A mixture attains the highest resistance
against thermal cracking of the pavement at low temper-
atures, and rutting resistance at high temperatures.
3. The viscosity of (40/60 S/A) mixture at temperatures
>120 °C is lowered by a factor of 1.6 than that of base
asphalt binder that allow a reduction in power con-
sumption by virtue of decreasing the temperature of
the binder heating, and asphalt concrete mix prepara-
tion by 25 °C to 30 °C. Since low preparation tempera-
tures correspond to low emission of toxic gases and
low processing costs, so we can consider the concretes
that will be based on modified sulfur asphalt as green
paving materials.
4. Based on the results of DMA test performed on S/A
binders at low temperatures from – 40 °C to 20 °C, the
low temperature cracking would be unlikely to occur
since the viscosities of S/A binders at the lowest antici-
pated temperature is 2.25  106 poise which were kept
Fig. 9. Tan delta of sulfur asphalt mixtures at low temperature ranges.
lower than the limiting stiffness value of 2  1010 poises
that attributed to the positive effect of modified sulfur in
decreasing the viscosity of binder.
of the binder is equal to 0.4 corresponds approximately to
5. The performance grade PG of S/A mixtures was deter-
the temperature at which the asphalt mixture would reach
mined using DMA test through the relation between
its limiting stiffness. So, it is concluded that a limiting stiff-
the parameter of G*/sin d and temperature. The results
ness of base asphalt binder 0/100 (S/A) will be at tempera-
indicated that PG of S/A mixture increases from 52 °C
ture 2 °C while the limiting stiffness temperature of
for base asphalt, to 58 °C, 64 °C, and 70 °C for 20/80,
sulfur/asphalt mixtures 20/80, 30/70, and 40/60 would
30/70, and 40/60 S/A mixture respectively.
decrease to be 6.8 °C, 12.4 °C, and 15.2 °C respec-
6. Also the DMA results approved that S/A mixtures give
tively. From studying the overall rheological parameters
high rutting factor G*/sin d than base asphalt that corre-
of sulfur asphalt mixtures at low temperatures, it is con-
late with higher rutting resistance.
cluded that 40/60 sulfur asphalt mixture gives the lowest
anticipated temperature (15.2 °C), after which the crack-
ing could occur Soleimani [30]. References

4. Conclusion [1] AASHTO Designation TP5-98, Dynamic Shear Rheometer of

Bitumnous Materials, 1998.
[2] ASTM Designation D113 – 07, Standard Test Method for Ductility
The viscoelastic properties of modified sulfur asphalt of Bituminous Materials, 2007.
binder have not been studied before in detail. In the present [3] ASTM Designation D 36 – 95 (Reapproved 2000), Standard Test
work we have performed a laboratory study to examine the Method for Softening Point of Bitumen (Ring-and-Ball Apparatus).
viscoelastic properties of a modified sulfur asphalt binder [4] ASTM Designation D 4402-01, Standard Test Method for Rotational
using Dynamic Mechanical Analyser (DMA) and Brook- Viscosity of Bituminous binder, 2001.
[5] ASTM Designation D 92-95 (Reapproved 2000), Standard test
field rotational viscometer test. Asphalt binder was par- method for flash point of Bituminous Materials using the Cleveland
tially substituted by substantial quantities 20%, 30%, and Open Cup method.
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