Influence of Crumb Rubber on Temperature Susceptibility and Activations Energy of Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen

This study investigates the temperature susceptibility properties of crumb rubber modified bitumen. The various approaches like assessing viscosity temperature susceptibility & A (regression intercept) parameters, activation energy and penetration index are utilized to evaluate bitumen's response to temperature changes. As the crumb rubber modifier (CRM) content increases, the viscosity of the modified bitumen increases, due to enhanced intermolecular forces resulting from crumb rubber modifier addition. Moreover, an increase in crumb rubber modifier percentage notably decreases both A and viscosity temperature susceptibility values, indicating improved temperature susceptibility. Addition of crumb rubber modifier reduces the activation energy of crumb rubber modified bitumen compared to the base bitumen. A linear relationship between crumb rubber modifier percentage and activation energy is evident. Furthermore, increasing crumb rubber modifier content in base bitumen results in a higher penetration index value, signifying enhanced temperature susceptibility of crumb rubber modified bitumen.