Value-Added Application of Waste Rubber and Waste Plastic in Asphalt Binder as a Multifunctional Additive

Abstract

The feasibility and effectivity of recycling waste rubber and waste plastic (WRP) into asphalt binder as a waste treatment approach has been documented. However, directly blending WRP with asphalt binder brings secondary environmental pollution. Recent research has shown that the addition of WRP into asphalt binder may potentially improve the workability of asphalt binder without significantly compromising its mechanical properties. This study evaluates the feasibility of using the additives derived from WRP as a multifunctional additive which improves both the workability and mechanical properties of asphalt binder. For this purpose, WRP-derived additives were prepared in laboratory. Then, three empirical characteristics—viscosity, rutting factor, fatigue life were analyzed. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were employed to evaluate the effect of WRP-derived additive on the workability and chemical and mechanical properties of base binder. The dispersity of WRP-derived additive inside asphalt binder was also characterized using fluorescence microscope (FM). Results from this study showed that adding WRP-derived additive increases the workability of base binder. The WRP-derived additive appears positive on the high- and low- temperature performance as well as the fatigue life of base binder. The distribution of the WRP-derived additive inside base binder was uniform. In addition, the modification mechanism of WRP-derived additive was also proposed in this paper.

Preparation of Wax-Based Warm Mixture Additives from Waste Polypropylene (PP) Plastic and Their Effects on the Properties of Modified Asphalt

“…The peak at 100 • C can correspond to the melting of PPW in modified asphalt, because the melting point of matrix asphalt is generally higher than 150 • C. In addition, the T g of PPWA F was also obtained from the DSC curve. The Tg of F is higher than that of MA, indicating that the PPW reduced the low-temperature performance of asphalt [50]. The result is consistent with the ductility result.…”

Polish Transition towards Circular Economy: Materials Management and Implications for the Construction Sector

“…Circular economy solutions help to maintain the added value of products and eliminate waste. The possibility of the reuse of natural resources after the end of a product’s life cycle supports their effective maintenance in economic circulation and, hence, limits their negative environmental impact [ 43 , 44 , 45 ].…”

“…Many materials of mineral and organic origin, such as natural rubber, wood and paper return to production as secondary raw materials. Greater significance is also attributed to the reuse of waste from production and purchase due to environmental and economic reasons [ 43 , 44 , 45 ]. The period between 2015 and 2018 saw a significant increase in the acquisition of selected groups of waste by production and trading entities.…”

Analysis and Economic Evaluation of the Use of Recycled Polyamide Powder in Masonry Mortars

“…For plastics and polymers, which are two of the main industrial byproducts and home waste materials [ 2 ], various processes are being conducted to reuse and recycle them, such as mechanical recycling (secondary polymers are obtained through mechanical processes), chemical recycling (monomers are recovered to be employed as new virgin polymers or are transformed in other useful materials), and energy recovery (energy is obtained from the combustion of post-consumer plastics) [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Additionally, the introduction as fillers in other materials is becoming a possible solution for plastic and polymeric waste materials, especially in construction materials, with examples of reuse in various structural materials, such as concrete [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], mortars [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ], bituminous materials for pavements [ 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 ], and gypsum [ 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ].…”