| Summary: | Bitumen is an important material that has been utilized as binder for aggregates in the construction of pavements for many years. In the past, unmodified bitumen was strong enough to resist deformation and deterioration from traffic loads. However, recent increase in traffic intensity and traffic volume has caused unmodified bitumen to be unable to attain the service life that they were designed for. Therefore, nowadays, polymer modified bitumen (PMB) technology has been widely applied by both researchers as well as manufacturers so that the performance of bitumen binder can be improved. This study aims to improve the physical properties of bitumen by the addition of natural rubber latex (NRL). Natural rubber latex was chosen as the modifier for this study because Malaysia is one of the largest producers and exporters of natural rubber latex worldwide and can be considered as one of the most important plants which help to contribute towards economic growth of the country. Therefore, the usage of natural rubber latex as a modifier in bitumen can give added value to local rubber products. The addition of natural rubber latex into bitumen was done in a mechanical mixer with three different variables: NRL content, blending temperature and blending time. The NRL content tested was varied between 1 – 12 percent in weight whereas the blending temperature and blending time were varied between 150 – 200oC and 10 – 90 minutes respectively. The results of the study concluded that the usage of suitable NRL content, blending temperature and blending time can improve the physical properties NRL modified bitumen when compared to unmodified bitumen. The optimum NRL content to be added based on the results of this study was 9 percent whereas the optimum blending temperature and blending time were 150oC and 10 minutes respectively. © Research India Publications.
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