Effect of polystyrene grafted graphene nanoplatelets on the physical and chemical properties of asphalt binder

[Display omitted] •PS-GNPs were effectively used as modifiers to SBS for modified asphalt preparation.•Spring-like PS-GNPs prepared by in-situ polymerization possessed higher toughness.•PS-GNPs/SBS modified asphalt showed good performance in wide range of temperature.•Anti-rutting performance of PS-GNPs/SBS modified asphalt was greatly enhanced. Polystyrene (PS) grafted graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) composite (PS-GNPs) was prepared by in-situ polymerization and applied as modifier to Styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) for modified asphalt preparation. Specific amount of PS-GNPs incorporation improved ductility, softening point and penetration while DSR, MSCR, BBR and LAS tests showed enhancement in viscoelastic, high temperature rutting resistance performance, anti-fatigue and low temperature performance of the parent asphalt. FT-IR, XRD, SEM and AFM techniques confirmed the successful grafting of PS onto GNPs surface, which increased the interplanar spacing of GNPs with a spring-like macromolecular structure. It was deduced that PS grafted onto GNPs surface dissolved the SBS network in modified asphalt, thus greatly improving its dispersions. This study could be of great help for highway and construction industries.