DBSA was used as a solubilizer together with conventional rejuvenator (CR) to produce a solubilized rejuvenator (SR), two kinds of aged bitumen involving TFOT aged bitumen and PAV aged bitumen were obtained by thin film oven test (TFOT) and pressurized aging vessel (PAV), respectively. Effects of CR and SR on the physical properties, chemical components, colloidal structure and micro-morphology of TFOT aged bitumen and PAV aged bitumen were investigated. Testing results of physical properties and chemical components indicated that CR and SR can replenish aged bitumen with necessary aromatics, TFOT aged bitumen that chemical component variation deteriorates its physical properties. With regard to PAV aged bitumen, of which the performance attenuation lies in chemical components variation and colloidal structure transformation, even if the content of CR reached up to 10 wt %, the regenerated bitumen cannot meet the regeneration requirement yet due to its definite influence on colloidal structure transformation, comparatively, sulfonic group in SR can react with the superficial atoms of asphaltenes to reform a solvation layer to facilitate the colloidal structure transformation of PAV aged bitumen, performance and beelike structure of regenerated PAV aged with bitumen with 10 wt % SR were approximated to that of virgin bitumen.
Keywords: aged bitumen; colloidal structure; micro-morphology; rejuvenator; solubilizer.