The goal of this paper is to analyze the aging behavior and the mechanism evolution of nano-Al2O3 (NA)-reinforced styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) asphalt under different thermal-oxidative aging conditions. First, NA/SBS-modified asphalt and SBS-modified asphalt with different aging levels were prepared. Second, the viscosity and high temperature rheological performance of the specimens were tested and the property-related aging indexes were calculated and compared. Third, a Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) test of the specimen was conducted and the chemical group-related aging indexes were calculated and analyzed. Fourth, gel permeation chromatography (GPC) was used to analyze the molecular weight of the specimens under different aging levels. Then, an atomic force microscope (AFM) was adopted to analyze the microsurface morphology of different specimens. Finally, correlation analysis between property-related indexes and chemical group indexes was conducted. The results show that NA can enhance the thermal-oxidative aging resistance of SBS asphalt. NA can inhibit the increase in sulfoxide groups and the degradation of the SBS polymer with the increase in aging. NA can slow down the formation of large molecule during the aging process. The degree of change in both the bee structures and micromorphological roughness of NA/SBS asphalt is lower than that of SBS asphalt under different aging levels.
Keywords: SBS asphalt; aging behavior; mechanism evolution; nanoalumina; thermal-oxidative aging.