Investigating the anti-ageing property of SBS copolymer modified bitumen incorporating surface organic layered double hydroxides

3-mercaptopropyltriethoxysilane (KH580) surface organic layered double hydroxides (LDHs) was synthesized to simultaneously bolster the anti-ageing property of SBS copolymer modified bitumen (SMB). The X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy proved that the KH580 was successfully grafted on the surface of LDHs (KH-LDHs). After KH580 surface organic modification, the aggregation and hydrophilicity of LDHs were significantly restrained, and the UV absorbing capacity was concurrently enhanced. Compared with LDHs, KH-LDHs exhibited superior compatibility within SMB and could improve the high-temperature performance and elastic behavior of SMB much better. After ageing, SMB became stiff and crisp, the rheological properties worsened, and the number of oxygen-containing groups (C[dbnd]O and S[dbnd]O) in SMB experienced a considerable rise. Simultaneously, SBS copolymer also degraded during the ageing process, further deteriorating the performance of SMB. LDHs was able to inhibit the ageing repercussions on the rheological properties, chemical structure and SBS copolymer, thus bolstering both the anti-ageing property of SMB and the degradation resistance of SBS copolymer. Furthermore, the role of LDHs would be dramatically strengthened by KH580 surface organic modification.