Current research interest

Glycerol, a by-product of biodiesel production, can serve as a bio-feedstock for polyester production. Various polyesters from glycerol (G) and anhydrides (maleic anhydride (M), phthalic anhydride (P)) through a catalyst-free polycondensation process, with the intention of utilizing this novel polyester in the modification of bitumen.

The results obtained from the study revealed notable improvements in the characteristics of the bitumen, demonstrating the promising potential of glycerol-derived polyesters to enhance the performance and durability of asphalt materials. Rheological analysis and ASTM standard tests further confirmed their enhanced resistance to rutting and deformation, underscoring the positive impact of the polyesters on performance as shown in the schematic representation in Scheme 1.

Additionally, the synthesized modified bitumen underwent short-term aging assessments via the rolling thin film oven test (RTFOT), which revealed a uniform distribution of the polymer within the bitumen matrix and confirmed the retention of its viscoelastic properties. To assess the applicability of different modified bitumen variants under varying environmental and traffic conditions, a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was conducted.

Furthermore, a Ridge-Regularized Quadratic Polynomial Regression Model (RRQPRM) was employed to investigate the interaction effects of the monomers (G, M, and P) on the properties of the modified bitumen. This analysis revealed synergistic interactions between the monomers that improved the physical and thermal performance of the modified bitumen, leading to enhanced stability under load and reduced temperature sensitivity. The findings indicated that the polyester-modified bitumens are well-suited for diverse climatic and traffic scenarios.