Throughout Europe polymer modified asphalt (PMA) is used extensively in the past decades for high trafficked roads and premium pavements; especially for surface layers. The addition of polymers contributes to the durability and functionality of these premium pavements, such as noise reducing pavements (the Netherlands) or rutting resisting pavements (Denmark and Slovakia). These pavements are now more and more reaching their end of life. Therefore, the road sector is facing a rapidly increasing source of reclaimed asphalt (RA) that contains polymer modified bitumen (PMB), which offers a potential premium binder contribution. Depending on the hardened state of the combined binder and the deterioration of the aggregate gradation during milling and further pre-processing, it is the challenge to the road sector to ensure – as far as possible – that the PMB containing RA is recycled at its highest practical potential. The goal is to avoid downgrading of RA containing a potential valuable asset.

From a technological perspective, the hypothesis is that the impact of the rheology of the aged polymer modified bitumen predominantly originates from aging of the base bitumen while the polymer remains reasonably inert to oxidative hardening. If the old binder can be recycled into new hot mix asphalt without excessive thermal impact on the polymer (degradation) a positive impact on the properties of a revived binder can be achieved.

From an economic and ecological perspective, the hypothesis is that when RA from premium quality, high trafficked pavements can be recycled into new premium quality pavements, the benefit for National Road Authorities as well as the road sector will be considerable because of the shorter hauling distances (lower carbon footprint) and the fact that less primary resources are needed for premium quality bitumen and aggregate (important for EU countries that are dependent on import of primary raw materials).