MS-26 provides step-by-step insights into the laboratory equipment required to test binder properties at three critical stages of its life cycle: unaged (original), short-term aged (during construction), and long-term aged (in-service road). Key tests detailed include:
Explanation of Performance Grade (PG) specifications and traditional grading methods. MS-26 The Asphalt Binder Handbook download pdf
Detailed explanations of the Superpave PG system, which classifies binders based on expected operating temperatures (e.g., PG 64-22). short-term aged (during construction)
The manual provides a comprehensive overview of the chemistry, physical properties, and performance grading of binders. MS-26 The Asphalt Binder Handbook download pdf
Detailed procedures for key AASHTO and ASTM tests, including:
Measures resistance to rutting and fatigue cracking.