Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors should reconsider the name of the paper. The current one is too long and not clear. More references that published in recent years should be cited. The majority of the articles referenced in this paper were before 2011. some spaces between words were missing like line 93, line 101, line 232 and miss spelling words like line 86 'standarts'. The language should be checked by a native speaker. In Section 2 from line 103 to 110. The language seems to be not technical. Could the author explain why the laboratory samples were prepared at that temperature and blending speed and why it was blended for such a long duration? Were there any references used for that sample preparation method? Why was sulfur added in 1 hour later not with the polymer together? Have you considered the order of adding the additives might affect the binder's properties? In Figure 1, the elasticity of the neat binder ( SBS at 0% content) was not reported. It should be added as a reference. Or the authors should explain why it was not provided.

Author Response

Response to comments from Reviewer to the manuscript

“Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer”.

 

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

 

Here is a list of changes and corrections:

 

Comment 1.

The authors should reconsider the name of the paper. The current one is too long and not clear. More references that published in recent years should be cited. The majority of the articles referenced in this paper were before 2011. some spaces between words were missing like line 93, line 101, line 232 and miss spelling words like line 86 'standarts'. The language should be checked by a native speaker. In Section 2 from line 103 to 110. The language seems to be not technical. Could the author explain why the laboratory samples were prepared at that temperature and blending speed and why it was blended for such a long duration? Were there any references used for that sample preparation method? Why was sulfur added in 1 hour later not with the polymer together? Have you considered the order of adding the additives might affect the binder's properties? In Figure 1, the elasticity of the neat binder (SBS at 0% content) was not reported. It should be added as a reference. Or the authors should explain why it was not provided.

 

Response.

According to your comment, the title of the article was changed to “Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer”

According to your comment, we have reviewed some articles over the last 5 years and cited 6 references in the article (part Introduction).

According to your comment, Lines 93, 101, and 232 have been corrected.

According to your comment, the error in the word "standards"has been corrected in line 86.

According to your comment, In Section 2, lines 103 to 110 have been changed and complemented:

‘According to the method developed by LLP "JV "CASPI BITUM", in the tar heated to 180-185°C was added ZVF, and was mixed in a colloid mill. Next, the calculated amount of polymer is added, the mixture is mixed at a speed of 3200 revolutions per minute for 30 minutes to disperse the polymer in the tar. Since the dissolution efficiency is greatly influenced by the size of polymer particles, the higher the dispersion (grinding) of polymer particles, the greater the specific contact surface of it with bitumen, the faster the process of swelling and, accordingly, the dissolution of the polymer in bitumen. When preparing PBB, optimal temperature selection is extremely important. Increasing the temperature increases the mobility of the chains of polymer macromolecules and the distance between them. This facilitates the swelling process. The optimal temperature at which the macromolecules of SBS-type polymers are located at the maximum distance from each other corresponds to the temperature of the viscous state and is 180-190 ⁰C. However, an increase in the temperature of PBB preparation above the working technological temperature for road bitumen causes bitumen aging. The mixture is then transferred to a stirrer at a stirring speed of up to 600 rpm and stirred for 1 hour to create a homogeneous mixture. Next, sulfur is added to the mixture to stabilize the polymer-bitumen dispersion, and mixing of the mass continues for 1.5 hours.’

The most effective equipment for the production of PBB should be considered, which includes colloidal mills (grinders), which provide grinding of the polymer during the preparation of PBB. At the moment, the best distribution (homogenization) indicators are achieved only when using colloidal mills with a high degree of grinding.

Sulfur is added after 1 hour due to the fact that it is first necessary to disperse and homogenize the mixture, and then to stabilize the PBB. At the LLP " JV "CASPI BITUM" enterprise, this method of introducing sulfur is used in practice.

According to the standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan for tars, elasticity is not determined, it is determined for polymer bitumen binders according to ST RK 2534-2014.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

Manuscript ID: Processes-1056387.

Paper title: Preparation of polymer bitumen binder based on mixtures of petroleum products in the presence of a stabilizer

Comments:

This paper investigated the influence of SBS copolymer and mixing of petroleum products on the properties of bitumen. Some interesting and meaningful results were shown in this study, which is beneficial to the production of petroleum bitumen. Here are some suggestions for further improving the manuscript before accepted.

1. The English editing should be improved.
2. More detailed information can be added in the abstract, such as the influence of DVD and SBS on the properties of bitumen, rather than introducing the recipe of the SBS modified binder.
3. The results in this study should be further discussed. Here are some recommended literatures and hope it can help improve the paper.

Rheological Properties, Compatibility, and Storage Stability of SBS Latex-Modified Asphalt. Materials. 12, 3683.

Evaluation of rheological behaviors and anti-aging properties of recycled asphalts using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers. Journal of Cleaner Production. 253, 120048

Experimental characterization of viscoelastic behaviors, microstructure and thermal stability of CR/SBS modified asphalt with TOR. Construction and Building Materials. 261, 120524.

4. In your paper, the term of “extensibility” should be changed as “Ductility”.
5. Only conventional properties of bitumen binders were presented. And please add some rheological properties.
6. In Fig.4, the region of Y-axis should be shortened.
7. The tables need to be re-designed.

Manuscript ID: Processes-1056387.

Paper title: Preparation of polymer bitumen binder based on mixtures of petroleum products in the presence of a stabilizer

Comments:

This paper investigated the influence of SBS copolymer and mixing of petroleum products on the properties of bitumen. Some interesting and meaningful results were shown in this study, which is beneficial to the production of petroleum bitumen. Here are some suggestions for further improving the manuscript before accepted.

1. The English editing should be improved.
2. More detailed information can be added in the abstract, such as the influence of DVD and SBS on the properties of bitumen, rather than introducing the recipe of the SBS modified binder.
3. The results in this study should be further discussed. Here are some recommended literatures and hope it can help improve the paper.

Rheological Properties, Compatibility, and Storage Stability of SBS Latex-Modified Asphalt. Materials. 12, 3683.

Evaluation of rheological behaviors and anti-aging properties of recycled asphalts using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers. Journal of Cleaner Production. 253, 120048

Experimental characterization of viscoelastic behaviors, microstructure and thermal stability of CR/SBS modified asphalt with TOR. Construction and Building Materials. 261, 120524.

4. In your paper, the term of “extensibility” should be changed as “Ductility”.
5. Only conventional properties of bitumen binders were presented. And please add some rheological properties.
6. In Fig.4, the region of Y-axis should be shortened.
7. The tables need to be re-designed.

 

Author Response

Response to comments from Reviewer to the manuscript

“Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer”.

 

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

 

Here is a list of changes and corrections:

 

Comment 1.

The English editing should be improved.

 

Response.

The English of paper has been improved.

 

Comment 2.

More detailed information can be added in the abstract, such as the influence of DVD and SBS on the properties of bitumen, rather than introducing the recipe of the SBS modified binder.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we have corrected the annotation

The article presents the results of research on the production of polymer-bitumen binder (PBB) based on mixtures of non-oxidized and oxidized petroleum products: high-viscosity tar, darkened vacuum distillate, oxidized petroleum bitumen 70/100, obtained at technological installations of LLP "JV CASPI BITUM" and styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) block copolymer brand L 30-01A modifier in the presence of a stabilizer. The results obtained showed that the introduction of the SBS modifier in the presence of a sulfur stabilizer improves the performance characteristics of PBB, such as elasticity, extensibility, softening temperature, penetration, brittleness temperature.

 

Comment 3.

The results in this study should be further discussed. Here are some recommended literatures and hope it can help improve the paper.

Rheological Properties, Compatibility, and Storage Stability of SBS Latex-Modified Asphalt. Materials. 12, 3683.

Evaluation of rheological behaviors and anti-aging properties of recycled asphalts using low-viscosity asphalt and polymers. Journal of Cleaner Production. 253, 120048

Experimental characterization of viscoelastic behaviors, microstructure and thermal stability of CR/SBS modified asphalt with TOR. Construction and Building Materials. 261, 120524.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we have reviewed the articles you recommended and included an analysis of these articles in the introduction.

 

Comment 4.

In your paper, the term of “extensibility” should be changed as “Ductility”.

 

Response.

According to your comment, the term of “extensibility” changed as “Ductility”.

 

Comment 5.

Only conventional properties of bitumen binders were presented. And please add some rheological properties.

 

Response.

According to your comment, additional rheological properties of bituminous binders will be studied later, as the research work on this direction started 2 months ago.

 

Comment 6.

In Fig.4, the region of Y-axis should be shortened.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we have shortened the region of Y-axis in Figures 2 and 4.

 

Comment 7.

The tables need to be re-designed.

 

Response.

According to your comment, tables are re-designed

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 3 Report

This manuscript reports an attempt to formulate a polymer-modified binder for road paving based on a few petroleum (by-)products. The topic is important to be studied, especially now when the world has to use limitedly available resources to address busier and heavier road transportation than the earlier age. The manuscript is well-structured. However, it is not acceptable for publication in the present form. The following comments/questions are given to the authors for consideration:

• a) Line 51: please check the Tg of PB blocks. It should be about -80 °C.
• b) Line 62: it is confusing if ref [32] is by “the authors” of this manuscript. Please clarify.
• c) Line 84: the authors highlight “the specific conditions of a particular refinery”. Was this study based on a particular refinery? To what an extent the conclusions of this study can be generalised to other common refineries worldwide? Please clarify this in the text.
• d) Please give the standard codes of the methods used in Table 1.
• e) The terminology used in this manuscript is not as explicit as the internationally accepted standard terms. For example, what is the definition of “extensibility”? It means ductility? Please check through the whole manuscript for this issue.
• f) Are the Tar #1 data in Table 4 re-presented from Figures 1 and 2 and Table 3? This is not recommended.
• g) The optimal concentration of SBS 5% was based on Tar #1. Is it also the optimal for Tar #2?
• h) Why was the DVD content always 2.5% for all cases?
• i) In Table 4, there are two columns of data for “ST RK 2534-2014 BMP 70-100”. Are they the min and max values? Please clarify. What does “BMP” stand for?
• j) Line 178: why is 20% the optimal? More explanation is needed.
• k) Line 216: why is 0.5% the optimal? More explanation is needed.
• l) This manuscript studies only the most basic properties of road paving binders. It is suggested to add more advanced test results, for example rheological testing.

Author Response

Response to comments from Reviewer to the manuscript

“Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer”.

 

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

 

Here is a list of changes and corrections:

 

Comment 1.

Line 51: please check the Tg of PB blocks. It should be about -80 °C.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we have corrected the sentence.

 

Comment 2.

Line 62: it is confusing if ref [32] is by “the authors” of this manuscript. Please clarify.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we have corrected the sentence.

In the work [38] it was shown that intermolecular interactions between bitumen and PB are stronger than with PS.

Corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 3.

Line 84: the authors highlight “the specific conditions of a particular refinery”. Was this study based on a particular refinery? To what an extent the conclusions of this study can be generalised to other common refineries worldwide? Please clarify this in the text.

 

Response.

Compounded bitumen is obtained by mixing residues from the processing of crude oil. In the technology of compounding bitumen, additives such as oil, tar, light oil fractions are often used, since with their help bitumen with desired properties is obtained, which cannot be done by deep vacuum stripping or oxidation.

Today, at LLP "JV CASPI BITUM", petroleum road bitumen is obtained by the compounding technology, mixing oxidized bitumen with vacuum column tar. This decision was made due to the fact that the shortcomings of the design scheme for the production of road bitumen do not allow working on two columns at the same time. This research can be extended to other common refineries around the world with the correct choice of bitumen tar ratios.

Corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 4.

Please give the standard codes of the methods used in Table 1.

 

Response.

According to your comment, we give standard methods used in Table 1.

 

Comment 5.

The terminology used in this manuscript is not as explicit as the internationally accepted standard terms. For example, what is the definition of “extensibility”? It means ductility? Please check through the whole manuscript for this issue.

 

Response.

According to your comment corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 6.

Are the Tar #1 data in Table 4 re-presented from Figures 1 and 2 and Table 3? This is not recommended.

 

Response.

According to your comment corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 7.

The optimal concentration of SBS 5% was based on Tar #1. Is it also the optimal for Tar #2?

 

Response.

No, use Tar #2 is not recommended based on Table 4.

 

Comment 8.

Why was the DVD content always 2.5% for all cases?

 

Response.

A further increase of DVD content (more 2.5%) in the polymer-bitumen binder led to an increase of penetration, Ring-and-ball softening point and partially led to the stratification of the polymer bitumen.

 

Comment 9.

In Table 4, there are two columns of data for “ST RK 2534-2014 BMP 70-100”. Are they the min and max values? Please clarify. What does “BMP” stand for?

 

Response.

According to your comment corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 10.

Line 178: why is 20% the optimal? More explanation is needed.

 

Response.

As seen from the figure, the addition of more than 20% of petroleum road bitumen PRB 70/100 will lead to a decrease in penetration, to an increase in ring and ball softening point and elasticity, therefore we consider the optimal concentration of petroleum road bitumen is 20%.

According to your comment corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 11.

Line 216: why is 0.5% the optimal? More explanation is needed.

 

Response.

Comparative analysis showed that when the stabilizer is involved in the raw material up to 0.25%, there is an improvement in the quality of PBB in all indicators. With an increase in the fraction of the stabilizer in the PBB to 0.5%, some operating characteristics deteriorate.

According to your comment corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 12.

This manuscript studies only the most basic properties of road paving binders. It is suggested to add more advanced test results, for example rheological testing.

 

Response.

According to your comment, additional rheological properties of bituminous binders will be studied later, as the research work on this direction started 2 months ago.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments have been addressed adequately. 

Author Response

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

Reviewer 2 Report

This paper has been revised carefully based on the comments, and it can be published.

Author Response

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

Reviewer 3 Report

Most of the comments are well addressed. However, the following corrections are needed before acceptance:

1. Line 56, The Tg of PS blocks is about +95 °C, not -95 °C. The Tg of PB blocks has been written correctly, about -80 °C.
2. In Table 4, it is difficult to understand some of the ranges for "ST RK 2534- 2014 PBB 70-100", including Fraass (-20 to -18?), elasticity (>60?), stability to foliation (minimum or maximum 2?). Please clarify. A "-" is missing for the stability to foliation of Tar #2 +DVD (2.5% wt.)?

Author Response

Response to comments from Reviewer to the manuscript

“Preparation of Polymer Bitumen Binder in the Presence of a Stabilizer”.

 

Authors gratefully acknowledge the carefully critical review of the present manuscript. According to your comments submitted reconsidered manuscript and entered appropriate amendments and additions.

 

Here is a list of changes and corrections:

 

Comment 1.

Line 56, The Tg of PS blocks is about +95 °C, not -95 °C. The Tg of PB blocks has been written correctly, about -80 °C.

 

Response.

According to your comment, corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

 

Comment 2.

In Table 4, it is difficult to understand some of the ranges for "ST RK 2534-2014 PBB 70-100", including Fraass (-20 to -18?), elasticity (>60?), stability to foliation (minimum or maximum 2?). Please clarify. A "-" is missing for the stability to foliation of Tar #2 +DVD (2.5% wt.)?

 

Response.

According to your comment, corresponding additions are added to the manuscript text.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf