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.

Described herein is a polymerized biorenewable, petroleum based, previously modified, or functionalized oil, comprising a polymeric distribution having about 2 to about 80 wt % oligomer content, a polydispersity index ranging from about 1.0 to about 5.0, and sulfur content ranging from 0.001 wt % to about 8 wt %. Methods of manufacturing the polymerized oil as well as its incorporation into asphalt paving, roofing, and coating applications are also described.

An asphaltic sealant composition and method which use (a) the incorporation of one or more pigment and/or UV absorbing materials, (b) a low shear production method, and (c) the addition of an epoxidized ester of a vegetable oil or a plasticizer, effective for increasing the degree of dispersion of the pigment material in the sealant composition, to provide improve resistance to UV radiation.

A method of forming an asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-source material and a bitumen source to form a bitumen mixture. The bitumen mixture can be mixed with a catalyst to form the asphalt mixture. Particles can be added to the asphalt mixture to form a roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 93° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 25 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 204° C., or any combination thereof. The asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product. The asphalt mixture can be applied as a pavement product.

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.

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.

Forming a modified bitumen includes contacting an oil with bitumen to yield a bitumen matrix comprising the oil, combining sulfur with the bitumen matrix, and reacting the sulfur with the oil to yield the modified bitumen. The modified bitumen composition includes bitumen, a sulfur component, and an oil component. The sulfur component is bonded covalently to the oil component, and the oil component is bonded covalently to the bitumen. An asphalt can include the modified bitumen.

Described herein is a rejuvenated asphalt and a method of rejuvenating asphalt comprising mixing a rejuvenator, bitumen, and aggregate to obtain an asphalt mixture, wherein the rejuvenator is present in an amount ranging from about 0.1-40 wt % by weight of the bitumen, and wherein at least 35 wt % of the bitumen is derived from recycled asphalt content. The rejuvenated asphalt provides desirable performance.

A polymer-modified emulsion used for rejuvenating or repairing deteriorated asphalt pavement includes an asphalt phase containing an asphalt and a biobased rejuvenating agent, and an aqueous phase including water and an emulsifying agent, and one or more polymers included in the asphalt phase, the aqueous phase or both.

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.