In the case of a polymeric additive to the asphaltic materials along with the presence of air oxidation, what is the nature of the reaction that will take place in this case?
As it is known that adding a polymeric substance to asphalt in the presence of Lewis acid will cause a kind of alkylation process .. The question is if air is pumped with the above materials into the asphalt system, what will the mechanism of reaction be
The presence of oxygen in the air leads to partial dehydrogenation of the asphalt and the oxygen contained in the blown air forms oxygen bridges with the hydrocarbon chains and three-dimensional networks are formed by polymerisation.
The presence of oxygen atoms also enables oxygen bridges to be formed between the asphalt and the molecules of the additive by a radical mechanism. Oxidation in air therefore improves the adhesion between the asphalt and the polymer so as to resist detachment caused by humidity.