Can crumb rubber modifier effectively replace the use of polymer- modified bitumen in asphalt mixture?

Laboratory scale mechanical performances on six plant produced mixtures; three semi-dense surface courses and dense binder modified with engineered crumb rubber (ECR) using the dry process are presented. The two types of mixtures investigated fulfilled for most part, requirements Swiss and/or US standards regarding volumetric properties, water sensitivity rutting. In advanced testing where no exist, ECR performed similar to reference polymer slightly worse in high temperature tests, becomes viscous rubber-binder composite its ability transfer loads is reduced. similarly or better than low tests. Across data set, all obtained results were well within acceptable values both indicating that can effectively replace asphalt mixtures.