Enhancing Properties of Sulfur Extended Asphalt Using Polyethylene Wax

• US 20140299017A1
• Filed: 04/09/2013
• Published: 10/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia), King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Original Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Government of Saudi Arabia), King Fahd University Of Petroleum And Minerals
• Inventors: Al-Abdul Wahhab, Hamad I., Hussein, Ibnelwaleed A., Al-Mehthel, Mohammed, Al-Idi, Saleh H., Parvez, Mohammad Anwar
• Granted Patent: US 9,546,275 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 106/270
• CPC Class Codes: C08K 3/06 Sulfur
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 2555/52 Aggregate, e.g. crushed stone, sand, gravel or cement
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 91/06 Waxes
• CPC Class Codes: C08L 95/00 Compositions of bituminous materials, e.g. asphalt, tar, pitch

Abstract

This invention relates to asphalt compositions. More specifically, this invention relates to asphalt binder compositions including asphalt, elemental sulfur and polyethylene wax, and methods of making the same. In some aspects, the invention provides a sulfur wax asphalt binder composition that includes a base asphalt having viscoelastic properties, an elemental sulfur, and a polyethylene wax. The polyethylene wax is combined with the base asphalt and the elemental sulfur to create the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition. The polyethylene wax is present in the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition in an amount effective to increase the viscoelastic properties as compared to the viscoelastic properties of the base asphalt.

Claims

1. A sulfur wax asphalt binder composition comprising:

a base asphalt having viscoelastic properties;

elemental sulfur; and

a polyethylene wax;

the polyethylene wax being combined with the base asphalt and the elemental sulfur to create the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition, the polyethylene wax being present in the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition in an amount effective to increase the viscoelastic properties as compared to the viscoelastic properties of the base asphalt.

2. The sulfur wax asphalt binder composition of claim 1 wherein the asphalt is about 52% wt, elemental sulfur is about 40% wt, and the polyethylene wax is about 8% wt.

3. The sulfur wax asphalt binder composition of claim 1 wherein the polyethylene wax is about 2-8% wt.

4. An asphalt composition comprising:

the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition of claim 1;

an aggregate material; and

a filler.

5. The asphalt composition of claim 4 wherein the sulfur wax asphalt binder composition is about 5% wt of the asphalt composition.

6. The asphalt composition of claim 4 further wherein the aggregate material is a gravel.

7. The asphalt composition of claim 4 further wherein the filler is a mineral filler.

8. The asphalt composition of claim 4 further wherein the asphalt roofing composition has improved viscoelastic properties compared to the viscoelastic properties of asphalt alone.

9. The asphalt composition of claim 4 further wherein the asphalt composition has improved waterproofing properties as compared to that of asphalt.

10. The asphalt composition of claim 4 further wherein the asphalt composition has improved damp-proofing properties as compared to that of asphalt.

11. The asphalt composition of claim 4 for use in paving.

12. The asphalt composition of claim 4 for use in roofing.

13. A method of making the sulfur wax asphalt composition of claim 1 comprising the steps of:

mixing the polyethylene wax with the base asphalt at a first predetermined temperature in a high shear blender for a first predetermined amount of time to produce an asphalt polyethylene wax mixture;

adding elemental sulfur to the asphalt polyethylene wax mixture and mixing for a second predetermined amount of time at a second predetermined temperature such that intimate mixing of the elemental sulfur and the asphalt polyethylene mixture is achieved.

14. The method of claim 13 further wherein the elemental sulfur is in powder form.

15. The method of claim 13 further wherein the elemental sulfur is ground to reduce particle size.

16. The method of claim 13 further wherein the first predetermined temperature is about 145°

C.

17. The method of claim 13 further wherein the second predetermined temperature is about 145°

C.

18. The method of claim 13 further wherein the first predetermined amount of time is about 2 minutes.

19. The method of claim 13 further wherein the second predetermined amount of time is about 10 minutes.