USING BRANCHED POLYMERS TO IMPROVE THE STORAGE STABILITY OF ACID TREATED POLYMER MODIFIED ASPHALTS

This invention relates to a composition arid method for improving the storage stability of acid treated polymer modified asphalts. More specifically, the storage stability of an asphalt which contains greater than 1.0 wt.% polymer can be improved by adding a branched, rather than a non branched, polymer to an asphalt which has previously been reacted with an inorganic acid. The storage stable acid treated branched polymer modified asphalt thus produced is particularly well suited for use as a binder in paving materials and as a coating or saturant for roofing shingles. This invention relates to a composition and method for improving the storage stability of acid treated polymer modified asphalts. More specifically, the storage stability of an asphalt which contains greater than 100 wt.% polymer can be improved by adding a branched, rather than a non-branched, polymer to an asphalt which has previously been reacted with an inorganic acid. The storage stable acid treated branched polymer modified asphalt thus produced is particularly will suited for use as a binder in paving materials and as a coating or saturant for roofing shingles.