RELATIVE OXYGEN ABSORPTION AND VOLATILITY PROPERTIES OF SUBMICRON FILMS OF ASPHALT USING QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICROBALANCE

The use of the quartz crystal microbalance for measuring relative oxygen uptake or absorption in submicron films of asphalt has proved to be a sensitive and reliable tool. It has shown that polar-aromatics absorb oxygen very quickly while asphaltenes absorb at a slow but prolonged rate. Saturates and naphthene-aromatics show virtually no absorption of oxygen but are relatively much more volatile. This is consistent with previous findings that relate the chemical and physical character of these components with their general resistance to oxidative type conditions. Significant differences between total asphalts can be shown, and it appears that they can be rated according to their oxygen absorption properties. © 1969, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.