Asphalt Binder Anti-Aging Additives for High Recycled Content

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Solution Overview

Problem

Asphalt materials deteriorate with age, becoming brittle and viscous, leading to cracking and difficulty in processing, especially when recycled, affecting the performance of paving and roofing materials.

Innovation Solution

Incorporation of modified anti-aging agents with high hydroxyl values, derived from carbonyl-containing compounds and reacted with polyols or amine alcohols, to slow aging and restore properties of virgin and aged asphalt binders, allowing for increased use of recycled materials.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If recycled asphalt materials are used to reduce virgin asphalt consumption, then environmental sustainability is improved, but the performance and processability of the asphalt binder deteriorates due to aging effects

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecycled contentVSAvoidbinder performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the chemical parameters of the anti-aging agent by increasing the hydroxyl value through reaction with polyols or amine alcohols. This parameter change enables the agent to effectively counteract aging in recycled asphalt binders, allowing higher recycled content while maintaining binder performance and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The modified anti-aging agent acts as an intermediary substance that mediates between the degraded properties of recycled asphalt and the desired performance characteristics. It restores flexibility and reduces brittleness in aged binders, enabling the use of higher proportions of recycled materials without compromising overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If anti-aging agents with high hydroxyl values are used to restore virgin asphalt properties, then the aging effects are reduced, but the complexity of the additive formulation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveanti-aging effectivenessVSAvoidadditive formulation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent achieves enhanced anti-aging effectiveness by systematically changing the hydroxyl value parameter of the anti-aging agent through controlled reactions with polyols or amine alcohols. This parameter modification optimizes the agent's ability to restore virgin asphalt properties while maintaining manageable formulation complexity through defined reaction conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The modified anti-aging agents improve processing and performance properties of asphalt binders, reducing the negative effects of aging and enabling the use of higher recycled content, enhancing the properties of asphalt-based materials.

Implementation Method 1

an anti-aging agent that is a reaction product of ingredients including (i) a first material including a compound containing one or more carbonyl groups and (ii) a second material that reacts with the one or more carbonyl groups of the first material and adds hydroxyl groups to the reaction product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectChemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Data Source

PatentUS20250346763A1Anti-aging additives for asphalt binders and roofing materials
Publication Date: 2025.11.13 ERGON INC

AI summary

An asphalt binder composition for use in asphalt-containing materials that includes at least one of a virgin asphalt binder, an air-blown virgin asphalt binder, or a reclaimed asphalt binder material, and an anti-aging agent that is a reaction product of ingredients including (i) a first material including a compound containing one or more carbonyl groups and (ii) a second material that reacts with the one or more carbonyl groups of the first material and adds hydroxyl groups to the reaction product, where the anti-aging agent has a hydroxyl value of greater than about 25 mg KOH/g.