Crosslinked products prepared by ionically crosslinking a solid grade oligomer and a polymer using an ionic crosslinking agent and methods of making the same

A method of preparing an asphalt composition, comprising:

• blending a solid grade oligomer, a polymer, and an ionic crosslinking agent with asphalt at a temperature of 160° C. or less to produce an asphalt composition comprising a crosslinked product prepared by ionically crosslinking the solid grade oligomer and the polymer using said ionic crosslinking agent, wherein the solid grade oligomer is an amine salt of a modified acrylic copolymer, an ammonium salt of a modified acrylic copolymer, or a combination thereof.

An asphalt composition comprising:

• a crosslinked product prepared by ionically crosslinking a solid grade oligomer and a polymer using an ionic crosslinking agent comprising zirconium, and
• asphalt.

An asphalt composition comprising:

• a crosslinked product prepared by ionically crosslinking a solid grade oligomer and a polymer using an ionic crosslinking agent, wherein the ionic crosslinking agent is present in an amount of from 0.01% to 5% by weight of the polymer and the solid grade oligomer, and
• asphalt.