# Enhancing Asphalt Binder Performance and Storage Stability with Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA)
## 4 Summary and Conclusions  
The study extensively investigated the impact of incorporating Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) into asphalt binders. Key findings are summarized as follows:  
1. **Viscosity**: TLA significantly increases the viscosity of asphalt binders, with higher TLA content generally leading to higher viscosity. Anomalies observed at specific TLA percentages underscore the complexity of these interactions, highlighting the need for precise control of TLA content. 2. **Rutting Resistance**: The addition of TLA enhances the rutting resistance of binders, with increased G*/sin \(\delta\) values in both original and RTFO-aged states. The bottom portions of conditioned samples showed better performance, suggesting improved compaction or segregation effects. However, conditioning reduces rutting resistance, indicating potential binder degradation. 3. **Fatigue Resistance**: Higher TLA content increases G*-sin \(\delta\) values, reducing the fatigue resistance of asphalt mixtures and indicating higher susceptibility to fatigue-induced cracking. Statistical analysis confirms the correlation between increased TLA content and decreased fatigue resistance. 4. **Rheological Properties**: TLA-modified binders show improved performance in Jnr and percentage recovery, indicating reduced fatigue cracking and enhanced resistance \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline  & \multirow{2}{*}{**Binder**} & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**Viscosity**} \\ \cline{3-5}  & & **Top** & **Bottom** & **\% Separation** \\ \hline  & PG64-22 & 783.8 & 840 & 3\% \\
135 °C & PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & 855.5 & 922.5 & 4\% \\  & PG64-22 + 20\%TLA & 888.8 & 938.8 & 3\% \\  & PG64-22 + 30\%TLA & 920 & 995 & 4\% \\ \hline  & PG64-22 & 313.8 & 352.5 & 6\% \\
180 °C & PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & 336.3 & 374 & 5\% \\  & PG64-22 + 20\%TLA & 386.3 & 411.3 & 3\% \\  & PG64-22 + 30\%TLA & 410 & 447.5 & 4\% \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 13: Separation index from viscosity of TLA modified binders. \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c c} \hline  & \multirow{2}{*}{**Binder**} & \multicolumn{4}{c}{**G*/sin \(\delta\)**} \\ \cline{3-5}  & & **Top** & **Bottom** & **\% Separation** \\ \hline  & PG64-22 & 1.57 & 1.75 & 5\% \\
64 °C & PG64-22 + 10\%TLA & 2.41 & 2.54 & 3\% \\  & PG64-22 + 20\%TLA & 3.07 & 3.39 & 5\% \\  & PG64-22 + 30\%TLA & 3.71 & 3.83 & 2\% \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 14: Separation index from G*/sin \(\delta\) of TLA modified binders. to permanent deformation. Despite some variability, TLA modification enhances pavement durability. * **Low-Temperature Performance**: Adding TLA initially improves binder flexibility and reduces stiffness, beneficial for minimizing low-temperature thermal cracking. However, excessive TLA content increases stiffness, negatively impacting stress relaxation properties. * **Storage Stability**: TLA as a modifying agent enhances the storage stability of asphalt binders, demonstrating minimal phase separation and excellent homogeneity. This uniform distribution contributes to improved binder stability and potential for extended pavement lifespan. * **Conclusions:** The incorporation of TLA in asphalt binders offers significant benefits in terms of viscosity, rutting resistance, rheological properties, and storage stability. However, careful consideration of TLA content is essential to balance workability, fatigue resistance, and low-temperature performance, ensuring the optimal structural integrity and durability of asphalt pavements. * **Author Contributions**: Conceptualization, S.V. and S.-J.L. ; Methodology, S.V. ; Formal analysis, S.V. ; Resources, H.K. and M.-S.L. ; Data curation, S.V. ; Writing--original draft, S.V. ; Writing--review & editing, S.V., J.Y. and S.-J.L. ; Supervision, J.Y. and H.K. ; Project administration, S.-J.L. and M.-S.L. ; Funding acquisition, M.-S.L. and S.-J.L. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. * **Funding:** This research was supported by a grant from a government funding project (2024 National Highway Pavement Management System).