Bitumen ageing – Impact of reactive oxygen species

Bitumen from crude oil refinery is an important construction material as the binding component for asphalt mixes in road construction. Due to its organic composition, it is susceptible to oxidation when being exposed to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidation is the main factor driving long-term ageing of the bitumen, which leads to an increase of brittleness and stiffness at lower temperatures and thus, makes road constructions more prone to...