This invention encompasses rubber modified asphalt cement compositions, as well as systems, apparatuses, methods for preparing, as well as methods for using rubber-modified asphalt cement compositions.

Historically, bitumen from oil sands has been carried over land using trucks, pipelines, or by rail, and over water using tankers. Each mode of transportation faces economic or technical challenges of its own. Here there is provided a method for transporting bitumen, comprising: receiving in a dry bulk shipping container a load of discrete pellets with bitumen entrapped into the pellets, wherein the pellets have non-stick outer surfaces configured to prevent the bitumen from sticking to walls of the container when the pellets are carried in the container; and transporting the dry bulk shipping container containing the pellets over a distance. Alternatively or additionally, the pellets may have non-stick outer surfaces configured to prevent the load from caking when the pellets are carried in the container such that the load of bitumen pellets is substantially free-flowing when the transporting is completed.

The current invention is a novel high performance asphalt mixture using optimum dosages of fiber and tire-rubber. Specifically, this invention provides a process for developing high performance asphalt composite by augmenting the conventional mixtures with the optimum dosages of microfiber and recycled tire-rubber particles (RuFiAC mixtures).

Some embodiments relate to a method comprising one or more of the following steps: obtaining asphalt, obtaining at least one hardening agent, mixing the at least one hardening agent with the asphalt, so as to form a hardened asphalt, obtaining at least one polymer, mixing the at least one polymer with the hardened asphalt, so as to form a polymer modified asphalt, obtaining at least one filler, mixing the at least one filler with at least one of the hardened asphalt, the polymer modified asphalt, or any combination thereof, so as to form a filled coating, obtaining a roofing substrate, and applying the filled coating to the roofing substrate, so as to form a roofing shingle.

Some embodiments relate to a method comprising one or more of the following steps: obtaining asphalt, obtaining at least one hardening agent, mixing the at least one hardening agent with the asphalt, so as to form a hardened asphalt, obtaining at least one polymer, mixing the at least one polymer with the hardened asphalt, so as to form a polymer modified asphalt, obtaining at least one filler, mixing the at least one filler with at least one of the hardened asphalt, the polymer modified asphalt, or any combination thereof, so as to form a filled coating, obtaining a roofing substrate, and applying the filled coating to the roofing substrate, so as to form a roofing shingle.

Asphalt product made from or containing Z1) from 90 wt % to 98 wt % of mineral aggregate; and Z2) from 2 wt % to 10 wt % of a bitumen composition made from or containing T1) from 99 wt % to 75 wt % of bitumen, and T2) from 1 wt % to 25 wt % of a polymer composition made from or containing A) 5-35% by weight of a propylene homopolymer; B) 20-50% by weight of an ethylene homopolymer; and C) 30-60% by weight of a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and 1-butene derived units.

The present invention provides an asphalt composition obtained by blending an asphalt and an addition polymerization-type polymer, the addition polymerization-type polymer having a hydroxyl value of 10 mgKOH/g or more and 60 mgKOH/g or less and having a weight average molecular weight (M.sub.w) of 2,500 or more and 70,000 or less.

A mixture made from or containing T1) from 99 wt % to 75 wt % of bitumen, and T2) from 1 wt % to 25 wt % of a polymer composition made from or containing A) 5-35% by weight of a propylene ethylene copolymer; B) 20-50% by weight of an ethylene homopolymer; and C) 30-60% by weight of a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene and 1-butene derived units.

A mixture made from or containing T1) from 99 wt % to 75 wt % of bitumen, and T2) from 1 wt % to 25 wt % of a polymer composition made from or containing A) 5-35% by weight of a propylene homopolymer; B) 20-50% by weight of an ethylene homopolymer; and C) 30-60% by weight of a terpolymer of ethylene, propylene, and 1-butene.

Methods and compositions for the production of polyethylene-ester bottoms modified asphalt are provided. These compositions reduce the fire and explosion hazard risks associated with the use of polyethylene. As these methods and compositions involve consumption of ester bottoms, a waste byproduct of refining, they provide sustainable asphalt materials.