LAUSR

Abstract In order to optimize the modifying effect of light stabilizer (LZ) on asphalt material, several experimental plans were designed for investigating the fusion process of light stabilizer in asphalt. The fusion state and typical micro-structure of light stabilizer in molten asphalt were characterized through using focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM). Furthermore, the elemental compositions and content of different designed plans were detected and discussed using Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) during the fusion process. The fusion characteristics between light stabilizer and asphalt were ascertained by means of thermogravimetric analyzer (TG) and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (FTIR). The results manifested that light stabilizer dispersed in asphalt with the size of approximately 2 μm and the fusion with asphalt might be physical miscibility instead of chemical reaction. In the process of fusion, fluid structure and crystalline structures, two types of typical micro-structures, generated in the preparing process of modified asphalt. The variation of elemental composition implied the stable state of light stabilizer inside asphalt after high-temperature mixing and TG-FTIR analysis results also verified the thermal stability and chemical composition of light-stabilizer modified asphalt.