ANÁLISIS DE LA INFLUENCIA DEL CLIMA TROPICAL SOBRE EL MODULO COMPLEJO DE LOS ASFALTOS

Abstract

The influence of natural aging phenomenon under tropical weather in asphalts was studied based on rheological properties (complex modulus G* and phase angle d), thermal susceptibility and colloidal structure of three pavement asphalts from Ecopetrol, in their puré state, and that of an asphalt extracted from an asphalt-lime mixture, evaluated before and after sixteen months of aging under natural conditions in a bench-type assembly. Aging Index (IE), Penetration Index (IP), Colloidal Instability Index (IC), atomic proportions (H/C and O/C) and empirical chemical formulations were determined. Results indícate that aging produces fundamental modifications in colloidal structure of asphalts. Molecular interactions between asphaltenes and maitenes also affect viscceiastic response of asphaltic binders.