LAUSR

The performance and modification mechanism of Buton rock asphalt (BRA) modified asphalt were analyzed. The road performance of modified asphalt was observed and compared with SBS modified asphalt to confirm the modification mechanism. Fourcomponent test, and dynamic shear rheological tests were conducted to identify the performance of modified asphalt. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was carried out to analyze the modification mechanism of modified asphalt. Finally, the rutting, low-temperature bending beam failure, and freeze–thaw splitting tests were used to evaluate the high-temperature performance, low-temperature cracking resistance, and water stability performance of mixtures, respectively. The results show that the high-temperature performance of asphalt can be improved by BRA with asphaltene and resin increased. It is likely that there is no new functional group generated and this process was physical changes mainly. The honeycomb structure of BRA ashes/particles increased the contact area between the base asphalt and BRA ashes/particles, which makes the asphalt change from the homogeneous body into a two-phase continuous structure system. Consequently, the adhesion between asphalt and BRA ashes/particles was enhanced, and the dynamic stability, bending coefficient and splitting strength ratio were improved. It indicates that the test results of asphalt mixtures verified the modification effect of BRA. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019, 136, 46903.