Facile synthesis of polyethylene-modified asphalt by chain end-functionalization Mengru Li a, Xi Chen n, Peiliang Cong a,, Chunjia Luo a, Liuyu Zhu a, Huayi Li b,, Yanmei Zhang , Min Chao 2, Luke Yan 44, "school of Matenals Saience a Enguncorine Chang an Univesioy. XF 'ab, 710064, CHind ARTICII. E. I F FO A B S T A C C previous reports. The addition of NPE to asphalt also reduced the penetration and increased the low femperature ductility. Improved rheology of NPE-modified asphalt was illustrated by dynamic shear theometer and stress creep recovery test. Out work has demonstrated that storage stability of PE-modified asphalt suceestully enhanced by end-group functionalization of PE. With good storage stability, the NPB-modified asphait would have potential application as pavements. 1. Introduction improves the resistance to permanent deformation and fatigue, and reAsphalt has been the major road material for decades [13].. duces temperature sensitivity [8,15-17]. However, the gradtal separaAlthough successful, the asphalt pavement suffers from failures caused. tion and segregation of PE from PE-asphalt mixture causes poor storage by heavy loads, high traffic volumes, and seasonal temperature variations [4,5]. The growing traffic leaves surface rutting on pavements. which cause damage to asphalt mixtures [6,7]. Therefore, asphalt with PE-asphalt interaction [8,19]. Li et al, have reported asphalt decoration improved performance is desired to meet the needs of tising PE with acrylate functionalization [19]. R. K. Padhan and co[8]. Carrently, styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) needs of modern traffic workers have improved the storage stability of PE decorated asphait by modifier for asphe modifying PE with trans-polyvinyl chloride and cross-linking agents enhanced flexibit, which brings asphalt higher rutting resistance and [20]. Zhang et al. have illustrated maleic anhydride grafted PE modified compatibility, the asphalt with improved storage stability [21]. In addition, there are a shear, cost, which complicates the preparation procedure and raises the asphalt, as shown in Table S1. In the abovestudy, the difference between low price and . Meantime, PE is selected as asphalt modifier because of its the top and bottom softening points of PE-modified asphalt was reduced low price and excellent performance [13,14]. to about 2.5C. Yet, the facile synthesis of PE-modified asphalt with Numerots studies have shown that the introduction of PE to asphalt great storage stability remains a challenge. M. in at at tvodification, includine visconity. penetration, ductilaty and softepting tase of soo tomin, The ebtained moditied asphait will be kepe warm lo a point. Lowicost NPE-modified acphait showed excellemt utoraje stability. 140 -Coven for 1 h, and then stirred for another io min. The dose of Ne and mechanieal properties, which can mect the nultifunctional peedt of belleited mat based ea ihe authors' presioks mork fj 3 . modem trangortation. 2. Experimental section 2.1. Chaptingitisition 2.1, Motrialis The stracture of NPE was analyred by Bruker DMK300 NMic. The Deijing (hemical Reageots Co., Ltd. M-chloroperbentoic acid (M-CPAM) meamarnd by Moalel DVeT rotary. viscometee. SK.Oo with NPP modified is supplied by Sigma-Aldrich. The polyethylene catalyst (2,4 - arphalt was subjected to penetration testing at 25 . anare [22]. condi tions of a speed of 10 rad/s through 2.5 mit parallel plates and 1.0 man sap. at 46,52,54,64 and 70 . C, respectively. The nsodel of the rhesemeter is Anson Pay MCR 702 . Olympes laverted fuorescence mi- 22. Syntheds of NPE and NPE madifed aghalr crorcope Dasa was ased to observe the dispersion of polyethylene. The synthesis of NH erminsted-polyethylene (NPD) is as follewn: 3. Results and discasion Polyethylene vPFo with double bond end groups was first synthesined. The airtight teaction kestle was evacuated, and cycloherane, MAO and 3. 1. Ponetraiom seflenits point and dicrility polyethylene catalyst (244iMePh) pebMezFecha were addind to the reactor with a needle tube. The vacuum was maimained throughoat the. The hardnean and consiatency of aphalt were judyed by a stan- proces. The reaction temperature was 80C and wairring was performed dandined penetration test [27,24]. Fig. JA shows the penetration of at 500 rpm for 1h [tis. M-chloroperbensoic acid (m-CrBA) was used to aphali is redoced after addiag. NPF, where the penetration af Read the Experimental section of the attached paper (Facile synthesis of PE-modified asphalt by chain end-functionalizotion), in which asphalt, a commodity product, is modified to increase its performance. a) (15 points) Create a block flow diagram for this process following the process described in the manuscript (section 2.2 Synthesis of NPE and NPE-modified asphalt). Be sure to list major conditions and identify material flows. b) (2 points) Identify in your block flow diagram what steps are reaction, and which are separation/purification. c) (2 points) Discuss: does the paper provide enough information to simulate this process using a Process Simulator Software like ASPEN*? If not, what additional information do you require