ABSTRACT
Xanthan gum were used to mix with base bitumen at 150°C. The influence of xanthan gum on the aging properties of bitumen was investigated by the Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) and the Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) test. 0.5wt.% xanthan gum modified bitumen was selected to compare to the base bitumen with the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements. The results indicated that the xanthan gum modified bitumens have a higher complex modulus and lower phase angle than base bitumen at a low content. Meanwhile, the total strain and permanent strain of xanthan gum modified bitumens were increased compared to base bitumen at 0°C. Besides, the results of the FTIR test showed that the xanthan gum modified bitumen has a better aging resistance than base bitumen. However, the results also implied that the extra xanthan gum did not contribute to the improvement of the bitumen’s rheological properties and aging resistance at the same time.
