Polymer modified binders (PMBs) are used in road construction to provide better performance than unmodified bitumen. As these materials consist of multiple components (i.e. bitumen, polymer and performance additives) the different components in a PMB can separate out, or segregate, when PMBs are stored hot before use in road construction.

The Australian PMB specification (Austroads ATS 3110) currently includes segregation tests (ATM 108) to determine whether the components in a PMB will segregate during hot storage. ATM 108 tests were developed considering current generation PMBs containing a single polymer type, but may provide misleading results if they are used to characterise next generation PMBs containing multiple polymer types. This webinar will summarise the outcomes of an Austroads project which developed a new segregation test (ATM 104) which is suitable for use with both current and next generation PMBs.

The webinar will cover the following topics:
· Issues with the current ATM 108 test for characterising PMBs containing multiple polymer types
· The learnings obtained from a literature review of Australian and overseas segregation tests which were used to develop a suitable test to characterise the segregation properties of current and next generation PMBs
· The results of laboratory studies which investigated the sensitivity of the new test to segregation in current and next generation PMBs
The webinar will be presented by Dr Robert Urquhart.

There will be question and answer opportunities during the session. No charge but registration is essential. Can’t make the live session? Register and we’ll send you a link to the recording.

Details About the Webinar

Thursday, 29/05/2025 · 1:00 p.m. Sydney (GMT +10:00)
Cost: Free
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About the Speakers

1737609653-7678e403e20827ae Robert Busuttil

Robert Busuttil is the Specialist Engineer Pavement Surfacing Technology at the Department of Transport and Planning (Transport Victoria). He is currently the Chair of the Austroads - Bituminous Surfacings Technical Group (BSTG), Australian Standards Committee CH025 (Bitumen and Related Products for Roadmaking) and is the Project Manager for this project. He has worked in the past as a technical expert for the Department for Infrastructure and Transport South Australia and NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi.

1737609894-ab889d15e1abd79d Robert Urquhart

Robert is the Discipline Leader of Material Performance at the National Transport Research Organisation. He has over 25 years of experience in the area of bituminous binders, and he has updated several different Austroads PMB test methods over the past 10 years.

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