Pavement
- Publication no: AP-T379-25
- ISBN: 978-1-922994-62-2
- Published: 23 May 2025
- PDF (free) Download
The Australian polymer modified binder (PMB) specification ATS 3110 currently includes segregation tests (conducted using Austroads Test Method ATM 108) to assess whether the polymer in a PMB will segregate during hot storage and transport. The ATM 108 test was developed considering current PMBs containing one polymer type, however, in the past few years next generation hybrid PMBs have been developed containing multiple polymer types.
This report details the work undertaken to identify a candidate segregation test that could effectively assess the segregation of polymers in current and next generation hybrid PMBs. A suitable candidate test was developed based on a review of segregation tests used in Australia, Europe, South Africa, the USA and Canada. This new test is formalised as Austroads Test Method ATM 104 Storage Stability of Binders.
The report also includes a review of overseas segregation test specification limits which was conducted to provide insights into what segregation test limits are acceptable to overseas jurisdictions. It additionally includes the results of laboratory studies which compared the sensitivity of the new candidate segregation test with the current ATM 108 test and the European segregation test. Sensitivity studies were conducted using three representative current PMBs (which contained one polymer type) and four representative next generation PMBs (which contained two polymer types).
Watch a recording of the webinar to learn more.
- Summary
- 1. Introduction
- 1.1 Purpose
- 1.2 Scope
- 1.3 Methodology
- 2. Literature Review of Segregation Tests
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 PMB Segregation
- 2.2.1 Thermodynamic Factors which Affect Segregation of PMBs
- 2.2.2 Kinetic Factors which Affect Segregation of PMBs
- 2.2.3 Issues with the Current ATM 108 Test Associated with Testing PMBs
- 2.3 The Austroads ATM 108 Segregation Test
- 2.3.1 History of the Test Method
- 2.3.2 Current Version of ATM 108
- 2.4 Overseas Tests Used to Measure Segregation of PMBs
- 2.4.1 European and South African Tests
- 2.4.2 US and Canadian Tests
- 2.5 Proposed Candidate Test Method
- 3. International Specification Limits for PMB Segregation Tests
- 3.1 European Segregation Test Limits
- 3.1.1 European PMB Framework Segregation Test Limits
- 3.1.2 Individual European Country Segregation Test Limits
- 3.2 South African Segregation Test Limits
- 3.3 US and Canadian Segregation Test Limits
- 3.4 Discussion of International Practice
- 3.1 European Segregation Test Limits
- 4. Candidate Test Sensitivity Investigations
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Experimental Design
- 4.2.1 Binder Materials
- 4.2.2 Laboratory PMB Sample Manufacture
- 4.2.3 Binder Test Procedures
- 4.3 ATS 3110 Test Results for the Different Binders Studied
- 4.4 Segregation Test Results
- 4.4.1 Current Generation PMBs
- 4.4.2 Representative Next Generation PMBs
- 4.4.3 Discussion on the Sensitivity of the Candidate Test
- 4.5 Effects on ATS 3110
- 5. Summary and Conclusions
- References