Effectiveness using recycled polyethylene terephthalate (pet) and mineral fillers as additive in asphalt mixture for binder course

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) is the most popular recycle plastic in the world because it is highest polymer in numbering system for plastic recycling. In this research, recycle PET used as a material in the mix asphalt modification. The objectives of this research were to determine the aggregate in asphalt mixture for binder course and to evaluate the effect usage recycle PET as additive in modified asphalt mixture by determining the stiffness properties at temperature 20° Celsius. In experiment conducted, there are two type of mineral fillers used which are Portland cement and lime for control and modified samples with 5.5% was added in asphalt mixture. The modified asphalt mixture consists of recycle PET in pallet form. The recycled PET was used from 2% to 10% of weight asphalt mixture with sieve size from 2.36mm to 1.18mm. The 80/100 penetration grade of bitumen was used in this experiment and this grade is usually used in Malaysia. The 5% weight of bitumen content was used in this experiment as followed the standard specification from Public Work Department for binder course (ACB 28). The sample testing performed using Indirect Tensile Stiffness Modulus Test (ITSM) to evaluate the stiffness properties of modified asphalt mixture. The result shows that the percentage of PET content in modified asphalt is higher stiffness compared to unmodified asphalt. All PET modified asphalt are more stiff rather than unmodified. The maximum modulus stiffness occurs at 4% PET content using filler Portland cement and 2% PET content using filler lime in asphalt mixture. In binder course layer of pavement structure, the 4% PET is high modulus stiffness compare with modified asphalt. In conclusion the value of modified asphalt using fillers such as lime can increase the stiffness properties compared to using Portland cement. In term of economic value, the recycle PET is a good material to use in construction because it could be improve the life service and also reducing the cost of road construction. Furthermore the material which is bitumen is cheaper and easy to obtain. The finding indicates that, the recycled PET has ability to improve the stiffness properties in modified asphalt mixture

Plastic waste as strength modifiers in asphalt for a sustainable environment

This research took the form of an investigation into the applicability of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) as strength modifiers in asphalt road construction. Samples of thoroughly washed, naturally dried and shredded PET wastes were collected. The optimum binder content (OBC) of the unmodified asphalt mix was determined. The bitumen used for the control mix was replaced with PET waste in 1, 3 and 5% proportions. Another sample was prepared with the addition of 1, 3 and 5% of PET waste while the OBC was fixed. The samples were subjected to Marshall Stability (MS) and Marshall Flow (MF) tests. Bulk density (BD), void in total mix (VTM), and void filled with bitumen (VFB) were determined. The results were compared with standards. The PET content obtained that conforms to the specification in AASHTO, ASTM and Nigeria Federal Ministry of Works standards was found to be 1% addition to OBC by weight of aggregate. This percentage PET content was 15% by weight of bitumen with BD, VTM, VFB, MF and MS being 2.38 kg/m3, 3.33%, 82.20%, 4.00 mm and 17.01 kN, respectively. The 1% PET modified asphalt was found to be useful for pavement construction and reduces the quantity of plastic waste in our environment

A New Materials and Design Approach for Roads, Bridges, Pavement, and Concrete

Increased understanding of demand for transport energy and how to improve road pavement materials would enable decision makers to make environmental, financial, and other positive changes in future planning and design of roads, bridges, and other important transportation structures. This research comprises three studies focused on pavement materials and a fourth study that examines energy demand within the road transportation sector. These studies are as follows: 1. A techno-economic study of ground tire rubber as an asphalt modifier; 2. A computational fluid dynamics analysis comparing the urban heat island effect of two different pavement materials – asphalt and Portland Cement Concrete; 3. A new approach that modifies the surface of ground tire rubber using low-cost chemicals and treatment methods to be used in asphalt applications; and 4. Analysis of road transport energy demand in California and the United States. The findings of these studies include that 1. GTR is an effective and economically suitable additive for modified asphalt, 2. the suitability of PCC pavements in urban settings should be reexamined, 3. Surface modification of GTR materials can improve compatibilization of particles for the manufacture of asphalt materials, and 4. gasoline sales are generally price inelastic in both the U.S. and California. Ultimately, these four studies improve understanding of road pavement materials and transport energy demand. They lay out important information about the future of the relationship between materials and design in the transportation industry. These findings may be used by engineers, policymakers, and others in the industry to better consider implications of decisions involved in design, creation, and modification of structures using pavement and concrete, including roads, bridges, etc

Utilization of Bitumen Modified with Pet Bottles as an Alternative Binder for the Production of Paving Blocks

This study considers the utilization of bitumen modified with molten polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste bottles as an alternative binder in paving blocks. PET waste was used at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10% to modify bitumen in the production of paving blocks. Compressive strength test and skid resistance test were conducted on the paving block samples to evaluate their mechanical strength properties, while water absorption and the Cantabro abrasion tests were carried out to ascertain the durability of the paving block samples. The PET-modified bitumen paving blocks (PMBPB) have enhanced compressive strength and skid resistance compared to unmodified bitumen paving blocks. Also, a significant reduction in water absorption rate of up to 56% was achieved in PET-modified bitumen paving blocks (PMBPB) compared to the unmodified sample. The abrasion loss in the PMBCB samples was the least compared to that in normal cement paving blocks and unmodified bitumen paving blocks. The maximum compressive strength and least water absorption for the PET-modified bitumen concrete paving blocks were obtained at a 10% PET replacement level. It can be concluded that enhanced compressive strength and durability in cement paving blocks and unmodified bitumen paving blocks could be achieved with the use of PET modified bitumen in concrete paving block production, and this will also encourage PET waste recycling and contribute meaningfully to sustainability in concrete paving block production. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-01-08 Full Text: PD

Mechanical analysis of asphalt mixtures produced with waste plastic modified binders

This work compares the viscoelastic properties of an asphalt binder (70/100 pen) modified with different waste plastics and the mechanical properties of the resultant asphalt mixtures. Two different plastic wastes were used, namely recycled HDPE and EVA. Three different polymer modified binders were produced with these plastic wastes: i) 5% HDPE modified binder (P5); ii) 5% EVA modified binder (E5) and; iii) a modified binder with 4% of EVA and 2% HDPE (E4P2). Asphalt mixtures were produced with these modified binders, and their mechanical properties were analysed and compared with a conventional mixture produced with a 30/50 pen bitumen. It was possible to conclude that these recycled polymers are able to improve the mechanical performance of the asphalt mixtures used in road paving.FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors & COMPETE and National Fund s through FCT & Foundation for Science and Technology under the project PLASTIROADS (PTDC/ECM/119179/2010) and Symposium_22 Recycling and Reuse of Wastes into New Composite Materials -2062-of the strategic project UI 4047- 2011-2012 Centre of Territory, Environment and Construction

Carbonization of coal pitch with additives

The ability of organic and inorganic additives (polyethylene terephthalate, titanium dioxide, finely disperse carbon, petroleum bitumen) to reduce the carcinogenic impact of coal-pitch carbonization is studied. Additives may reduce the quantity of pitch sublimates and their content of carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Some additives are able to reduce the benz[a]pyrene content in the exhaust gases, but its complete elimination is impossible, since benz[a]pyrene is a natural product of the high-temperature pyrolysis of organic materials. For this reason, additions of petroleum products to coal pitch cannot reduce the benz[a]pyrene emissions in the exhaust gases. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc

Bitumen modified with recycled polyurethane foam for employment in hot mix asphalt

A wide variety of modifiers have been applied to bitumen in order to enhance their properties and performance. Among them, polymers have been mainly used. The aim of this paper is to assess the use of polyurethane foam waste as a bitumen modifier for hot mix asphalts. The polyurethane foam is a by-product of the manufacturing of polyurethane for thermal insulation. From a bitumen with a penetration grade of 50/70, various samples with percentages of waste material in weight ranging from 1% to 5% were produced and tested. Samples with 5% of waste material or more became rough arid were refused due to their poor workability. A bituminous mixture with modified bitumen with a 4% of polyurethane was manufactured arid compared with a sample with the same aggregates and original bitumen. Results in Marshall test showed that a mix with polymer modified bitumen yielded improvements in stability and a lower deformability. This result suggests that the employment of polyurethane foam waste is a promising bitumen modifier, contributing also to recycle waste materials

Structural and physico-mechanical properties of natural rubber/GTR composites devulcanized by microwaves: influence of GTR source and irradiation time

Ground tire rubber from car and truck was modified using microwave irradiation at variable time. The irradiated ground tire rubber was used as filler in composites based on natural rubber. The composites, with high content of ground tire rubber, were prepared using an internal batch mixer and subsequently cross-linked at 160¿. The influence of the ground tire rubber source (car/truck) and irradiation time on structure, physico-mechanical behaviour, thermal properties and morphology of natural rubber/ground tire rubber composites was studied. The interfacial interactions between ground tire rubber and natural rubber as function of ground tire rubber source and irradiation time were evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, tensile tests, swelling measurements and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that irradiation of ground tire rubber slightly enhanced tensile properties and cross-link density of natural rubber/ground tire rubber composites. This effect was more evident in the case of ground tire rubbertruck because of its higher content of natural rubber and was reflected in changes in the interfacial adhesion, which were confirmed by the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy analysisPostprint (author's final draft

Binder–aggregate adhesion and resistance to permanent deformation of bitumen-emulsion-stabilized materials made with construction and demolition waste aggregates

[Abstract:] Bitumen-stabilized materials with emulsion (BSM-E) are gaining increasing importance within the scope of road pavement engineering and the fight against climate change. Both environmental and economic aspects of BSM-E can be further improved by substituting the natural aggregates (NA) with recycled construction and demolition waste aggregates (CDWA). The objective of the present paper is to analyze how such substitution affects the two critical properties that mostly define the durability and long-term performance of BSM-E: resistance to stripping and resistance to permanent deformation. The stripping phenomena were analyzed in terms of binder–aggregate affinity through the Rolling Bottle Test and Boiling Water Test. The results showed that the weak mortar that attached to the aggregate surface produced poorer binder–aggregate affinity when the samples were subjected to mechanical agitation. However, the recycled aggregates did not affect the affinity at high temperatures and improved the resistance to permanent deformation, leading to failure of the material after many loading cycles

Valorização de resíduos plásticos na modificação de betumes para pavimentos rodoviários

Com o aumento do tráfego rodoviário são colocadas maiores exigências aos pavimentos, surgindo a necessidade de melhorar o seu desempenho. Um método que pode melhorar significativamente a qualidade dos pavimentos flexíveis é a adição de polímeros aos ligantes/misturas betuminosas. Assim, foram produzidos ligantes modificados com polímeros reciclados, em diferentes condições, cujo desempenho foi comparado com o de ligantes convencionais e de um ligante modificado comercial. Os resultados dos ensaios laboratoriais serão utilizados na seleção de resíduos plásticos e das condições de produção do betume modificado para otimizar o seu comportamento, salientando-se que este estudo procura promover a reutilização de resíduos de uma forma mais ecológica e económica.Financiado por Fundos FEDER através do Programa Operacional Fatores de Competitividade – COMPETE e por Fundos Nacionais através da FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do projeto PLASTIROADS (PTDC/ECM/119179/2010) e do projeto estratégico UI 4047 – 2011-2012