Oil and Gas Research Institute, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Yakutsk, Russia:

A. A. Khristoforova, Researcher
M. D. Sokolova, Head of Laboratory, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, marsokol@mail.ru

Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University, Yakutsk, Russia:

B. N. Zarovnyaev, Head of Mining Institute, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Research and Design Institute of Diamond-Field Industry, Mirny, Russia:

A. N. Akishev, Head of Integration Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Having stated specific and complex character of handling and transportation in the zone of intensive deepening in open pit mining completion, the authors propose to construct semi-steep roads using modified bitumen as a binder. Russian construction geotechnology knows little on application of modified bitumen though this material with the improved properties can add to considerable enhancement in quality of transportation routes in open pit mines. To improve properties of the binder, rubber crumb of worn-out tyres was used. The experience of including recycled rubber in composition of road construction materials points at the need of physicochemical interaction between bitumen and rubber. Only in this case, rubber-and-bitumen material can improve the process and service abilities of bituminous concrete. Natural zeolite with high surface energy due to developed porous structure was chosen as a combining agent. The interaction at the bitumen–rubber crumb interface was adjusted using mechanical activation methods. Mechanical activation of a material both enables dispersion of fillers and elevation of surface energy of particles being treated. This article describes the research findings on zeolite structure before and after ball planetary milling, and gives standard physico-mechanical characteristics and morphological analysis of the structure of modified bitumen. It is shown that the proposed technological approaches, namely, the use of zeolite and the mechanical treatment of dispersed materials, have enabled better interaction at the bitumen–rubber crumb interface. The most essential beneficial effect of rubber crumb is enhancement of grip of bituminous concrete, which is one of the key requirements of operating safety for semi-steep roads.

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