Rubber-containing bituminous mixtures and methods for making and using same
AssigneesPolymer Consultants, Inc., Innovative Polymer Solutions, Inc.
InventorsDavid L. Bangs, Peter C. Blyth
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Abstract
Disclosed are methods for producing rubber-containing bituminous mixtures by pressurizing mixtures of bituminous materials, crumb rubber, and one or more suspension agents with a gas, and then reducing the pressure, creating bubbles of the gas in the mixture. Also disclosed are methods of introducing gas into such mixture by rapid mixing. Mixtures produced by the disclosed methods, such as rubber-containing asphalt mixtures and paving compositions thereof, and their use are also disclosed.
Claims40
A method for preparing a rubber-containing bituminous mixture, comprising:
- a. pressurizing a mixture comprising bituminous material, crumb rubber, and one or more suspension agents with a gas, wherein the gas is nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, NO2, NO, or NH3, thereby dissolving at least a portion of the gas into the mixture;
- and
- b. reducing the pressure of the mixture, thereby creating bubbles of the gas in the mixture.
A mixture, comprising:
- bituminous material, crumb rubber, one or more suspension agents, and from about 1 mg/L to about 500 mg/L of dissolved gas, wherein the gas is nitrogen, helium, neon, argon, krypton, xenon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, NO2, NO, or NH3.
A method for preparing a rubber-containing bituminous mixture, comprising mixing from about 300 to about 800 rpm a mixture comprising bituminous material, crumb rubber, and one or more suspension agents, to thereby dissolve from about 1 mg/L to about 500 mg/L of gas into the mixture.
A mixture, comprising:
- bituminous material, from about 14 to about 18% crumb rubber by weight of the bituminous material, and one or more polymeric amine suspension agents.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.