Modification of the geological properties of Baiji asphalt using microwave technology

The research work was aimed to prepar different types of asphalt. Beji asphalt was mixed with polymers such as polystyrene, melamine-formaldehyde resins and poly methyl methacrylate. The amount of polymer added varied between (0.5- 3%) in addition to (1%) blow down and (1%) of anhydrous aluminum chloride AlCl<strong>₃</strong>. The materials were mixed and heated to (140±5 C◦), then exposed to microwave for a period of (5, 10& 15) minutes at (180 and 360) watt. After the reaction was completed, some rheological properties were measured such as ductility, softening point, penetration and penetration index (PI), and compared with the non-modified asphalt. The process was repeated at the same condition but without using Blow Down and the time of reaction is (10) minutes,<br /> The rheololgical properties of the obtained sample was almost similar to this of Iraqi standards. In addition Marshall test of paving asphalt was compared for the samples. The results show that, the modified samples superseded that of the original asphalt in term of paving properties and characteristics.