System and Method for High Throughput Preparation of Rubber-Modified Asphalt Cement

A rubber-modified asphalt cement composition prepared by:

• i) mixing rubber granules and asphalt to form a mixture;
• ii) heating the mixture to a temperature of at least 510° F.;
• iii) further mixing at least a portion of the heated mixture with further rubber granules in a pre-wet vessel comprising a mixer to form a wetted asphalt/rubber mixture;
• and
• iv) passing the further mixed at least a portion of the heated mixture through at least one higher shear mixer.

A system for preparing an rubber-modified asphalt cement composition, comprising:

• i) an asphalt charging device for charging asphalt into the system;
• ii) a rubber charging device for charging rubber granules into the system;
• iii) at least one heater for heating the charged asphalt, the charged rubber granules, or a mixture thereof to a temperature of at least 510° F.;
• iv) at least one pre-wet vessel comprising a mixer to form a wetted asphalt/rubber mixture from the charged asphalt and further charged rubber granules;
• v) at least one high shear mixer for mixing the wetted asphalt/rubber mixture into the rubber-modified asphalt cement composition;
• and
• vi) a controller for controlling the asphalt charging device, the rubber charging device, and/or the at least one high shear mixer, whereby the rubber-modified asphalt cement composition has an integration value of at least 95.