Influence of SBS type and base bitumen composition on the chemical response of polymer modified bitumen to short-term overheating

Maria Ratajczak; Artur Wilmański; Piotr Gajewski

doi:10.7409/rabdim.026.013

Received: 2026-07-08
Accepted: 2026-09-08
Published: 2026-10-02

Vol. 25 No. 3 (2026)

Influence of SBS type and base bitumen composition on the chemical response of polymer modified bitumen to short-term overheating

Maria Ratajczak

, Artur Wilmański , Piotr Gajewski

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.026.013

Abstract

The article examined how styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) copolymer type, polymer content, and base bitumen composition affect the chemical response, as assessed by FTIR spectroscopy, of polymer-modified bitumens (PMB) to short-term technological overheating. Two paving-grade bitumens, 160/220 and 50/70, differing in colloidal instability index, were modified with four commercial SBS copolymers at 3 and 8 wt.%. Part of each binder was additionally conditioned at 240°C for 1 h to simulate accidental overheating during production or storage. Binders were analysed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), supported by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of neat SBS copolymers and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) of non-overheated PMBs. The SBS index depended mainly on polymer content, but its response to overheating was strongly influenced by SBS type and base bitumen composition. TGA showed neat SBS copolymers did not undergo major bulk decomposition at 240°C under nitrogen, while DSC on non-overheated PMBs showed strong effects of base bitumen composition on phase organization. Overall, PMB response to overheating is governed mainly by polymer-bitumen compatibility, SBS architecture, and phase structure, not by copolymer thermal decomposition.

Keywords:

differential scanning calorimetry, fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, polymer modified bitumen, short-term overheating, styrene-butadiene-styrene, thermogravimetric analysis

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Robert Jurczak, Paweł Mieczkowski, Oliwia Merska, Maria Ratajczak, Effectiveness of a specific Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP) rejuvenating agent , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2023)
Bartosz Budziński, Maria Ratajczak, Evaluation of the resistance of modified bitumen to low-temperature cracking based on the colloidal index , Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty: Vol. 23 No. 3 (2024)

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Ratajczak, M., Wilmański, A., & Gajewski, P. (2026). Influence of SBS type and base bitumen composition on the chemical response of polymer modified bitumen to short-term overheating. Roads and Bridges – Drogi I Mosty, 25(3), 193–209. https://doi.org/10.7409/rabdim.026.013

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

Lu X., Isacsson U.: Chemical and rheological evaluation of ageing properties of SBS polymer modified bitumens. Fuel, 77, 9-10, 1998, 961-972, DOI: 10.1016/S0016-2361(97)00283-4
Google Scholar

Wu W., Cavalli M.C., Jiang W., Kringos N.: Differing perspectives on the use of high-content SBS polymer-modified bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 411, 2024, Article ID: 134433, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2023.134433
Google Scholar

Tian Y., Li H., Sun L., Zhang H., Harvey J., Yang J., Yang B., Zuo X.: Laboratory investigation on rheological, chemical and morphological evolution of high content polymer modified bitumen under long-term thermal oxidative aging. Construction and Building Materials, 303, 2021, Article ID: 124565, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2021.124565
Google Scholar

De Carcer Í.A., Masegosa R.M., Viñas M.T., Sanchez-Cabezudo M., Salom C., Prolongo M.G., Contreras V., Barceló F., Páez A.: Storage stability of SBS/sulfur modified bitumens at high temperature: Influence of bitumen composition and structure. Construction and Building Materials, 52, 2014, 245-252, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2013.10.069
Google Scholar

Ratajczak M., Wilmański A., Sandomierski M.: FT-IR mapping as a novel tool for assessing the compatibility of bitumen and SBS copolymer. Construction and Building Materials, 505, 2025, Article ID: 144735, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2025.144735
Google Scholar

Niu Y., Zhu Z., Xiao J., Liu Z., Liang B.: Evaluation of storage stability of styrene-butadiene-styrene block copolymer-modified asphalt via electrochemical analysis. Construction and Building Materials, 107, 2016, 38-43, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2015.12.174
Google Scholar

Kleiziene R., Panasenkiene M., Vaitkus A.: Effect of aging on chemical composition and rheological properties of neat and modified bitumen. Materials, 12, 24, 2019, Article ID: 4066, DOI: 10.3390/MA12244066
Google Scholar

Frolov I.N., Yusupova T.N., Ziganshin M.A., Okhotnikova E.S., Firsin A.A.: Formation of phase composition of petroleum bitumen according to data of temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 131, 2018, 555-560, DOI: 10.1007/s10973-017-6779-1
Google Scholar

Kaya D., Topal A., Gupta J., McNally T.: Aging effects on the composition and thermal properties of styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) modified bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 235, 2020, ID Article: 117450, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117450
Google Scholar

Yan C., Huang W., Ma J., Xu J., Lv Q., Lin P.: Characterizing the SBS polymer degradation within high content polymer modified asphalt using ATR-FTIR. Construction and Building Materials, 233, 2020, ID Article: 117708, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2019.117708
Google Scholar

Wang M., Zhang Z., Liu F., He H., Zhang H., Yu W., Xu J.: Evolution of phase morphology and rheological behavior during heat treating for modified bitumen with SBS of different molecular architecture. Fuel, 393, 2025, Article ID: 117708, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2025.134964
Google Scholar

Xu N., Wang H., Chen Y., Miljković M., Feng P., Ding H.: Thermal storage stability and rheological properties of multi-component styrene-butadiene-styrene composite modified bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 322, 2022, Article ID: 126494, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2022.126494
Google Scholar

Ganeeva Y.M., Okhotnikova E.S., Yusupova T.N., Bryzgalov N.I., Fazylzyanova G.R., Barskaya E.E., Raisovich K.A.: Thermal characteristics of polymer modified bitumen according to simultaneous thermal analysis and microcalorimetry investigation. Journal of Thermal Analysis and Calorimetry, 150, 2025, 4075-4082, DOI: 10.1007/s10973-025-14036-8
Google Scholar

Shu B., Wu S., Pang L., Javilla B.: The utilization of multiple-walled carbon nanotubes in polymer modified bitumen. Materials, 10, 4, 2017, Article ID: 416, DOI: 10.3390/ma10040416
Google Scholar

Bansal S., Gupta V., Chopra T., Mehta R.: Utilizing synergy of MLG and MWCNT with optimized mixing protocol to improve the high temperature stability of SBS modified bitumen. Construction and Building Materials, 449, 2024, Article ID: 138382, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138382
Google Scholar

Yang S., Zhu H., Li R., Yang X., Tan Q., Chen Y., Lei L.: Application of functionalized graphene oxide in the preparation of crumb rubber modified asphalt with excellent storage stability. Construction and Building Materials, 450, 2024, Article ID: 138488, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2024.138488
Google Scholar

Xie J., Yang Y., Lv S., Zhang Y., Zhu X., Zheng C.: Investigation on rheological properties and storage stability of modified asphalt based on the grafting activation of crumb rubber. Polymers, 11, 10, 2019, Article ID: 1563, DOI: 10.3390/polym11101563
Google Scholar

Al Hawesah H., Sadique M., Harris C., Al Nageim H., Stopp K., Pearl H.: Polymer modified asphalt binder – an approach for enhancing temperature sensitivity for emergency pavement repair. International Journal of Pavement Engineering, 23, 13, 2022, 4760-4774, DOI: 10.1080/10298436.2021.1975704
Google Scholar

Sarnowski M., Kowalski K.J., Król J.B., Radziszewski P.: Influence of overheating phenomenon on bitumen and asphalt mixture properties. Materials, 12, 4, 2019, Article ID: 610, DOI: 10.3390/ma12040610
Google Scholar

Larsen D.O., Alessandrini J.L., Bosch A., Cortizo M.S.: Micro-structural and rheological characteristics of SBS-asphalt blends during their manufacturing. Construction and Building Materials, 23, 8, 2009, 2769-2774, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2009.03.008
Google Scholar

Ouyang C., Wang S., Zhang Y., Zhang Y.: Improving the aging resistance of styrene-butadiene-styrene tri-block copolymer modified asphalt by addition of antioxidants. Polymer Degradation and Stability, 91, 4, 2006, 795-804, DOI: 10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2005.06.009
Google Scholar

Li B., Stüwe S., Mirwald J., Hofko B.: Characterizing the diversity of PmB aging with application to pavements. Fuel, 400, 2025, Article ID: 135803, DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2025.135803
Google Scholar

Cuciniello G., Leandri P., Polacco G., Airey G., Losa M.: Applicability of time-temperature superposition for laboratory-aged neat and SBS-modified bitumens. Construction and Building Materials, 263, 2020, Article ID: 120964, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2020.120964
Google Scholar

Farid M., Król J.: Investigating the ageing process of polymer modified bitumen using a modified thin-film oven test in the aspect of recycling purpose. Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty, 22, 4, 2023, 379-386, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.023.020
Google Scholar

Ashimova S., Amirbayev Y., Zhumagulova A., Zhumamuratov M., Begaliyeva S., Baibolekova Z., Smagulova M.: Quantitative Assessment of SBS-Modifier Content in Bituminous Binders Using Infrared Spectroscopy. Polymers, 18, 8, 2026, Article ID: 898, DOI: 10.3390/polym18080898
Google Scholar

Ni H., Ma J., Sun D., Xu L., Ling S., Hu M.: Application of differential scanning calorimetry as advanced asphalt testing technology: A comprehensive review. Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English Edition), 12, 5, 2025, 1174-1209, DOI: 10.1016/j.jtte.2024.10.003
Google Scholar

Chen X., Ma Z., Zhou J., Wang J., Zhang X., Zhao R., Tong J.: Thermal degradation characteristics of styrene-butadiene-styrene copolymer asphalt binder filled with an inorganic flame-retarding agent. Polymers, 14, 18, 2022, Article ID: 3761, DOI: 10.3390/polym14183761
Google Scholar

Spragg R.A.: Combining FTIR microspectroscopy with differential scanning calorimetry. Analusis, 28, 1, 2000, 64-67, DOI: 10.1051/analusis:2000280064
Google Scholar

Gaweł I., Kalabińska M., Piłat J.: Asfalty drogowe. Wydawnictwo Komunikacji i Łączności, Warszawa, 2014
Google Scholar

Product information. Kraton Corporation, https://kraton.com/product-finder/ (available: 08.09.2026)
Google Scholar

Porot L., Mouillet V., Margaritis A., Haghshenas H., Elwardany M., Apostolidis P.: Fourier-transform infrared analysis and interpretation for bituminous binders. Road Materials and Pavement Design, 24, 2, 2023, 462-483, DOI: 10.1080/14680629.2021.2020681
Google Scholar

Zhang D., Wang B., Zheng Y., Zhang Y., Liu D., Yi C., Liang B., Zhu C.: Research on key indices of SBS modified asphalt aging based on grey relation entropy analysis. Construction and Building Materials, 523, 2026, Article ID: 146077, DOI: 10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2026.146077
Google Scholar

Jurczak R., Mieczkowski P., Merska O., Ratajczak M.: Effectiveness of a specific reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) rejuvenating agent. Roads and Bridges – Drogi i Mosty, 22, 4, 2023, 447-462, DOI: 10.7409/rabdim.023.027
Google Scholar

Maria Ratajczak

maria.ratajczak@put.poznan.pl
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0575-4963

Affiliation:

Poznan University of Technology, Faculty of Civil and Transport Engineering, 5 Piotrowo St., 61-138 Poznań Poland

Artur Wilmański

Affiliation:

General Directorate for National Roads and Motorways (GDDKiA), Poznań Branch, 12 Hawelańska St., 61-625 Poznań Poland

Piotr Gajewski

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0229-3922

Affiliation:

Poznan University of Technology, Faculty of Chemical Technology, 4 Berdychowo St., 61-131 Poznań Poland

Influence of SBS type and base bitumen composition on the chemical response of polymer modified bitumen to short-term overheating

Abstract

Keywords:

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Downloads

Maria Ratajczak

Artur Wilmański

Piotr Gajewski