Overnight storage of asphalt mixtures using polymer modified binders is recommended to allow the polymer to fully activate.

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Polymer modification becomes effective when the polymer is dispersed and swollen in the hot asphalt during mixing. Activation is driven by the heat and shear of the mixing process, not by letting the mix sit overnight. Overnight storage does not guarantee any further activation and, in fact, can cause problems: polymer demixing or phase separation from the asphalt, oxidation and aging of the binder, and changes in viscosity that can affect performance. The right approach is to blend the polymer-modified binder at the proper temperature with adequate mixing so the polymer is fully dispersed during processing, then place or pave without relying on a resting period for activation.