Fourier-transform infrared analysis and interpretation for bituminous binders

InfraRed spectrometry is a powerful technique to characterise bituminous binders. The methodology not fully harmonised and may lead variability. RILEM-272-PIM-TG1, evaluated seven complex bituminous, for which eleven laboratories performed FTIR. While, the spectra showed similar trends, further analysis was needed improve comparison. A specific approach applied on two binders, unmodified polymer modified bitumen, ageing conditioning. Combining Gaussian distribution derivative confirmed good alignments of laboratory results. two-step model developed improving interpretation. It consists baseline adjustment with eight points normalisation over maximum aliphatic peak. Furthermore, fingerprint determined main absorption peaks defined by their location shape. Only intensity varies from This general can be used as platform aging or binder complexity.