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Pavement Interactive (https://pavementinteractive.org) > Reference Desk

(https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/) > Testing
(https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/) > Binder Tests
(https://pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/binder-tests/) > Pressure
Aging Vessel

Pressure Aging Vessel

Overview

The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) (Figure 1) provides simulated long term aged
asphalt binder for physical property testing. Asphalt binder is exposed to heat
and pressure to simulate in-service aging over a 7 to 10 year period.
 (http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Pressure_Aging_Vessel.jpg)

Figure 1: Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV)

The basic PAV procedure takes RTFO

(https://www.pavementinteractive.org/reference-desk/testing/binder-
tests/rolling-thin-Rlm-oven/) aged asphalt binder samples, places them in
stainless steel pans and then ages them for 20 hours in a heated vessel
pressurized to 305 psi (2.10 MPa or 20.7 atmospheres). Samples are then
stored for use in physical property tests.

The standard Pressure Aging Vessel procedure is found in:

AASHTO R 28: Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized

Aging Vessel (PAV)

Background

Many HMA distresses either initiate or become more severe in older

pavements. Therefore, a method to simulate aged asphalt binder is important
in investigating and predicting these types of distresses. The Superpave PG
 binder speciRcation calls for long term aged asphalt binder to be tested at
intermediate and cold temperatures to determine fatigue and low temperature
cracking (Figure 2) resistance.

(http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Cracking.jpg)

Figure 2: Low temperature cracking (left) and fatigue

cracking (right).

Asphalt Binder aging by Oxidation

Although many di_erent factors contribute to asphalt binder aging, the key
component of concern for the PAV is oxidation. Oxidation increases an
asphalt’s viscosity with age up until a point when the asphalt is able to quench
(or halt) oxidation through immobilization of the most chemically reactive
elements.

Oxidation Occurrence

Oxidation can occur in the Reld during two distinct stages of a pavement’s life
(Bahia and Anderson, 1995[1]):

1. Mixing (Figure 3) and placement (Figure 4). During mixing and

placement the asphalt binder is rapidly aged by volatilization (through
elevated temperature) and oxidation (through its large contact area with
the heated aggregate). The predominate aging mechanism during this
stage is the loss of volatiles resulting from elevated mixing and placement
temperatures; oxidation is secondary.
:
 2. In-service. Over the life of an in-service HMA pavement the constituent
asphalt binder slowly ages as the oxygen from the surrounding
environment percolates through the HMA and chemically reacts.

(http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Hma_mixing.jpg)

Figure 3: HMA mixing in a drum plant.

HMA placement.

(http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/HMA_Placement.j
pg)

Figure 4: HMA placement.

:
 Aging Simulation

The RTFO aging procedure is used to simulate aging during mixing and
placement, while the PAV aging procedure is used to simulate aging during in-
service life. Therefore, asphalt binder tests concerned with mix and placement
properties (such as the DSR) are conducted on RTFO aged samples, while
asphalt binder tests concerned with in-service performance (such as the DSR,
BBR and DTT) are performed on samples Rrst aged in the RTFO and then in the
PAV.

Test Origins

In developing a procedure to simulate long term aging by oxidation, two

general approaches were considered (Bahia and Anderson, 1995[1]):

Oven tests. These are older than pressure tests and are relatively simple
and quick. They rely on high temperatures and thin asphalt Rlms to
accelerate the oxidation process. However, during this aging process,
asphalt binder samples lost a signiRcant amount of volatiles as well. Field
tests showed that the constituent asphalt binder in older in-service HMA
did not lose signiRcant amounts of volatiles after placement.
Pressure tests. This approach, although originally less popular than oven
tests, has been around for over 40 years. Pressure tests work by using
high pressure to increase the di_usion rate of oxygen into an asphalt
binder sample. In general, this approach limits the loss of volatiles while
aging the asphalt binder sample.

Based on the preceding descriptions, a pressure test was desired for simulating
long term asphalt binder aging because (Bahia and Anderson, 1995[1]):

Volatile loss is minimized.

Aging can be accomplished without high temperatures.
Large enough sample sizes can be accommodated.
Field climate conditions can be approximated.
Laboratory use is practical.

The standard asphalt binder PAV was developed at Iowa State University for
long term aging of asphalt cements and is also a standard method for aging
rubber products (as in ASTM D 454 and ASTM D 572) (Roberts et al., 1996[2]).
:
 Reasons for PAV Time and Temperature (from Bahia and Anderson,
1995[1])

The PAV process is typically conducted for 20 hours at either 194, 212 or 230°F
(90, 100 or 110°C). These were chosen for practical, rather than theoretical
reasons.

Original PAV experiments were conducted at 300 psi (2.07 MPa) and 60°C for 6
days. Results showed insuhcient aging and the test period was deemed too
long. Therefore, in order to increasing the aging rate (producing a shorter test)
the test temperature was raised. Originally, a test temperature of 212°F (100°C)
was chosen but, during Reld validation, it was found to be overly harsh for cold
climates and too mild for hot climates. Therefore, three elevated temperatures
are used, each one to simulate a di_erent general environmental condition:

Temperature

Simulation

194°F (90°C)

cold climate

212°F (100°C)

moderate climate

230°F (110°C)

hot climate

Currently, there is discussion about these temperatures, how they relate

to Reld performance, and whether they should be changed or at least
simpliRed.

The PAV time of 20 hours was selected because it was thought that this time
would allow for one test plus the removal of completed samples and insertion
of new samples within a 1 day window.
:
 Test Description

The following description is a brief summary of the test. It is not a complete

procedure and should not be used to perform the test. The complete
procedure can be found in:

AASHTO R 28: Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized

Aging Vessel (PAV)

Summary

RTFO aged asphalt binder is placed in an unpressurized PAV preheated to the

test temperature. When the PAV nears the test temperature it is pressurized to
300 psi (2.07 MPa). After 20 hours of treatment the samples are removed,
degassed and stored for future testing. Figure 5 shows the major PAV
equipment.

Major PAV equipment.

(http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Pav_equipment.jpg)

Figure 5: Major PAV equipment.

:
 Approximate Test Time

22 hours from sample preparation to end of vacuum degassing procedure.

Basic Procedure

1. Heat RTFO aged asphalt binder until juid enough to pour. Stir sample and
pour 50 g into a preheated thin Rlm oven pan (Video 1). Pour as many
pans as needed for intermediate and cold temperature testing (usually 1 –
3 pans will suhce).

Pouring asphalt binder

Video 1: Pouring asphalt binder into a DTT sample mold.

Heating time should be minimized to avoid oxidative hardening and

volatile loss. (AASHTO, 2000c).

2. Place pans (Figure 6) in a pan holder (Figure 7) and place inside preheated
PAV (Figure 8). Video 2 shows this process.
:
 (http://www.pavementinter
active.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/P
av_pan.jpg)

Figure 6: PAV pan (with a

quarter for scale).
:
 (http://www.pavementinter
active.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/P
an_holder.jpg)

Figure 7: Pan holder with

one PAV sample inserted.
:
 (http://www.pavementinter
active.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/P
av_top.jpg)

Figure 8: PAV viewed from

the top with the pan holder
inserted.

Inserting samples into the PAV

:
 Video 2: Inserting samples into the PAV.
3. Seal the PAV and allow it to return to the aging temperature.

Returning the PAV to aging temperature must be done within 2 hours for
the procedure to remain valid (AASHTO, 2000c).

Aging temperature is based on the climate where the material is expected

to be used. For climates where a PG 52 or lower is speciRed, the PAV is
performed at 194°F (90°C). For climates where a PG 58 or higher is
speciRed, the PAV is performed at 212°F (100°C). For desert climates, it is
recommended to perform the PAV at 230°F (110°C).

4. Once the PAV has reached the desired temperature, pressurize the PAV to
300 psi (2.07 MPa) and maintained the pressure for for 20 hours.
5. At the end of the aging period, gradually release the pressure and remove
the pans from the PAV.
6. Place the pans in an oven set at 325°F (163°C) for 15 minutes, then scrape
into a single container sized so that the depth of the residue in the
container is between 0.55 and 1.57 inches (14 and 40 mm).
7. Place the container in a vacuum oven (Figure 9) at 338°F (170°C) and
degas the sample for 30 minutes to remove entrapped air. If not
degassed, entrapped air bubbles may cause premature breaking in the
DTT test.
:
 Vacuum oven.

(http://www.pavementinteractive.org/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Vacuum_oven.jpg)

Figure 9: Vacuum oven.

Results

Parameters Measured

None. The PAV is used to simulate asphalt binder aging for use in other tests
associated with performance graded asphalt binder.

Specifications

None.

Typical Values

None.

Calculations
:
 None.

Footnotes (↵ returns to text)

1. Bahia, H.U. and Anderson, D.A. (1995). The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV): A
Test to Simulate Rheological Changes Due to Field Aging. ASTM Special
Technical Publication 1241, Hardin, J.C., ed. American Society for Testing
and Materials. West Conshohocken, PA.↵
2. Roberts, F.L.; Kandhal, P.S.; Brown, E.R.; Lee, D.Y. and Kennedy, T.W.
(1996). Hot Mix Asphalt Materials, Mixture Design, and Construction. National
Asphalt Pavement Association Education Foundation. Lanham, MD.↵

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