Cracking resistant asphalt binders including hard asphalt, and related methods

A cracking resistant asphalt binder, comprising:

• a base asphalt material having a performance grade of 58-28;
• and
• at least about 5.0 parts by weight of a hard asphalt comprising at least one of solvent deasphalting asphalt or propane deasphalting asphalt for every about 100.0 parts by weight of the base asphalt material, the at least one of the solvent deasphalting asphalt or the propane deasphalting asphalt having a penetration between 0 dmm and 10 dmm at about 25° C., a softening point between about 65.6° C. and about 104.4° C., a high temperature compliance of at least about 85° C., and a low temperature compliance greater than about −12° C., wherein the cracking resistant asphalt binder has a performance grade of PG 64-22 and a ΔTc greater than −5° C. after PAV aging for 40 hours.

A method of forming a cracking resistant asphalt binder using at least one hard asphalt, the method comprising:

• providing a hard asphalt comprising at least one of solvent deasphalting asphalt or propane deasphalting asphalt, the hard asphalt having a vacuum viscosity of at least about 1,000,000 P at about 60° C. and a high temperature compliance of at least about 85° C.;
• and
• mixing the at least one hard asphalt with a base asphalt material to form a cracking resistant asphalt binder having a ΔTc greater than −5° C. after PAV aging for 40 hours, the cracking resistant asphalt binder comprising at least about 5.0 weight percent of the at least one hard asphalt by weight of the base asphalt material.