General Rheological Properties of Fractionated Switchgrass Bio-Oil as a Pavement Material

ABSTRACT An alternative approach for decreasing the demand and dependency for crude petroleum/bitumen binders is the use of bio-binders in three different ways: a direct alternative binder (100% replacement), a bitumen extender (25% to 75% replacement), or a bitumen modifier (10% replacement). In this paper, the applicability of developing bio-binders from switchgrass bio-oil fractions to be utilized as a direct alternative has been investigated. The results showed that the relationship between viscosity and temperature and shear rate can be well described by Arrhenius-type and Power law models, respectively, or by a log linear relationship. As an overall conclusion, the rheological properties of switchgrass bio-oils are similar and comparable to bitumen binders and represent a viable renewable alternative to petroleum derived asphalt binders.