Modification of Nigerian Bitumen Using Locally Source Materials

Abstract

Bitumen utilized for road construction must satisfy international standard, Nigeria bitumen could not be used because it falls short of the necessary standards approved globally for road construction, it prompts early potholes, rutting, bleeding, hence there is need to modify and improve the properties of Nigeria bitumen. The reason for this study is to upgrade the locally found bitumen in Nigeria to international standard so that the country can curb incessant importation of bitumen for road construction and pavement, as nature naturally endowed the country with bitumen. Several approaches are available by which local bitumen can be modified, but, this paper focused on blending form of modification. Local bitumen (unmodified sample) used for this study was gotten from a village in Ondo state, Nigeria called Agbagu. The bitumen was mixed with powdered (150-micron size) rubber tyres, potash and carboxyl methyl cellulose (CMC) polymer (modified sample). Only 30% by weight of the mixture was used to upgrade 200 grams of the local bitumen sample. Various tests such as penetration value test, softening point test, viscosity test, flash point test and fire point test were carried out on modified bitumen to determine the consistency of the upgraded bitumen. The result confirms that the modified Nigerian bitumen sample when compared with the foreign sample, improved in quality and properties, thereby approaching the international standard required for road construction and other uses of bitumen internationally.