Preparation and properties of SBS-g-GOs-modified asphalt based on a thiol-ene click reaction in a bituminous environment

Styrene-butadiene styrene graphene oxide nanoplatelets (SBS-g-GOs)-modified asphalt was prepared by reacting thiolated GOs (GOs-SH) with SBS in asphalt using a thiol-ene click reaction. The temperature resistance and mechanical properties of asphalts were analyzed by dynamic shear rheology (DSR) and multiple-stress creep-recovery (MSCR) tests, which revealed that an optimum amount of GOs-SH (0.02%) can effectively improve the low temperature and anti-rutting performance of SBS asphalt. Segregation experiments showed that SBS-g-GOs possessed good stability and dispersion in base asphalt. Fluorescence microscopy results revealed that the addition of GOs-SH promoted the formation of SBS network structure. Textural and morphological characterization of GOs-SH and SBS were achieved by Fourier transform infra-red (FT-IR) spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic-force microscopy (AFM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while surface chemical composition was tested by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Based on textural characterization data, a suitable reaction mechanism was proposed that involved the preferential reaction between GOs-SH and 1,2 C=C of SBS. The currently designed GOs-SH incorporated asphalt via thiol-ene click reaction provides new ideas for the preparation of modified asphalt with enhanced mechanical properties for target-oriented applications.