The present invention relates to relates to a method of producing an improved asphalt. This method includes providing an asphalt binder and providing a compound of formula (I): ##STR00001##
as described herein. The asphalt binder is mixed with the compound of formula (I) under conditions effective to produce an improved asphalt. Also disclosed are an asphalt product and a method of making asphalt material.

Disclosed are asphalt and asphalt binders and methods for making such compositions with sterols. The sterols improve various rheological properties. Also disclosed are methods of determining the changes or improvements of various rheoloical properties.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, comprising obtaining a lecithin-containing material, in some aspects derived from a crude refining stream, comprising 20-80 wt % acetone insoluble matter, 1-30 wt % free fatty acid, and less than 10 wt % water, adding a fatty acid or carboxylic source to the lecithin-containing material to obtain a lecithin fatty acid blend or lecithin carboxylic acid blend and incorporating the blend into asphalt or oil field applications.

The invention provides a non-petroleum based rejuvenating agent to improve the performance of the recycled asphalt, and accordingly extend the service life of the recycled pavement.

Hot-applied asphaltic and non-asphaltic sealant compositions and methods having or using defined effective polymer concentration (EPC) values of at least 7.0 are provided which (a) provide improved softening points and improved resilience without the use of any inorganic filler materials, while at the same time maintaining or increasing the ductilities of the compositions, or (b) enable the use of one or more inorganic filler materials to provide improved softening points and improved resilience while maintaining desirable viscosity levels and at least significantly limiting any losses in ductility or increasing the ductilities of the compositions.

A bituminous composition includes at least one bitumen base, at least one first chemical additive chosen from compounds of general formula Ar1-R.sub.1-Ar.sub.2 (I), and at least one second chemical additive chosen from a second chemical additive chosen from the reaction products of at least one C.sub.3-C.sub.12 polyol and of at least one C.sub.2-C.sub.12 aldehyde. This composition can be used for different industrial applications and as road binder, notably for the preparation of bituminous mixes.

Disclosed are asphalt binder compositions and methods for making such compositions with pure sterol:crude sterol blends. The sterol blends improve various rheological properties.

Asphalt modifier packages and rubber-modified asphalts including the packages are described. Asphalt modifier packages can include an amine functionalized wax and an elastomeric polymer in conjunction with ground tire rubber. Asphalt modifiers can include a ground tire rubber compounded with a reactive elastomeric terpolymer. Rubber-modified asphalts can exhibit an excellent stability of the ground tire rubber additive. Rubber-modified asphalts can exhibit a storage stability separation factor of about 6° F. or less, an MSCR J.sub.nr value of from about 0.05 to about 2 at 3.2 kPa and 67° C., and an MSCR percent recovery of from about 20% to about 75% at 3.2 kPa and 67° C.

Vegetable oil compositions, as an example, corn oil, having an elevated lower alkyl ester content above about 7% weight percent of the total weight of the oil composition, and uses thereof are provided.

Disclosed are asphalt and asphalt binders and methods for making such compositions with sterols. The sterols improve various rheological properties. Also disclosed are methods of determining the changes or improvements of various rheoloical properties.