Durability of Polymer-Modified Asphalt Mixture with Wasted Tire Powder and Epoxy Resin under Tropical Climate Curing Conditions

Abstract

The quality of pavements in tropical climates is negatively affected by the frequent wet and dry cycles during the rainy season, as well as by issues related to overloading from heavy trucks and traffic congestion. Contributing to this deterioration are factors such as acid rainwater, heavy traffic oils, and municipal debris. In light of these challenges, this study aims to assess the viability of a polymer-modified asphalt concrete mixture. This study investigates the feasibility of a polymer-modified asphalt concrete mixture with the addition of 6% crumb rubber powder from waste car tires and 3% epoxy resin to counter the harsh conditions of tropical climate weather. The study involved subjecting test specimens to five to 10 cycles of contaminated water (100% rainwater + 10% used oil from trucks), curing for 12 h, and air drying in a chamber of 50 °C for 12 h to simulate critical curing conditions. The specimens underwent fundamental laboratory performance tests such as the indirect tensile strength test, dynamic modulus test, four points bending test, and Cantabro test, as well as the double load condition in the Hamburg wheel tracking test to determine the effectiveness of the proposed polymer-modified material in actual conditions. The test results confirmed that the simulated curing cycles had a critical impact on the durability of the specimens, with the greater curing cycles leading to a significant drop in the strength of the material. For example, the TSR ratio of the control mixture dropped from 90% to 83% and 76% after five and 10 curing cycles, respectively. Meanwhile, the modified mixture showed a decrease from 93% to 88% and 85% under the same conditions. The test results revealed that the effectiveness of the modified mixture outperformed the conventional condition in all tests, with a more prominent impact observed under overload conditions. Under double conditions in the Hamburg wheel tracking test and a curing condition of 10 cycles, the maximum deformation of the control mixture sharply increased from 6.91 to 22.7 mm, whereas the modified mixture increased from 5.21 to 12.4 mm. Overall, the test results confirm the durability of the polymer-modified asphalt concrete mixture under harsh tropical climate conditions, promoting its application for sustainable pavements, especially in Southeast Asian countries.

Feasibility of Sustainable Asphalt Concrete Materials Utilizing Waste Plastic Aggregate, Epoxy Resin, and Magnesium-Based Additive

“…The asphalt binder and epoxy resins were obtained from the Korean SK petroleum company, known for their high-quality products. The magnesium additive was sourced from a reliable Korea Import Company in Seoul, South Korea [ 18 , 19 ]. The aggregate used in this study was obtained from a local asphalt plant, ensuring proximity and adherence to regional specifications.…”

“…The WPCM was then incorporated into the mixture, and the mixing process continued for about 1–2 min to facilitate thorough blending. Throughout the entire process, strict control of temperature and duration ensured optimal bonding and homogeneity [ 19 ].…”

“…Epoxy resin, known for its adhesive properties and strength, has been widely investigated as a reinforcing agent in asphalt concrete [ 18 ]. The combination of WPA and epoxy resin has the potential to further enhance the cohesion between plastic particles and the asphalt binder, leading to improved load-bearing capacity and resistance to deformation [ 19 ]. The application of epoxy resin in hot mix asphalt (HMA) offers significant benefits for enhancing the performance and durability of the mixture [ 20 ].…”

Characteristics of Polyurethane/Waste Rubber Powder Composite Modifier and Its Effect on the Performance of Asphalt Mixture

“…At present, whether from the perspective of waste disposal or simply to improve the performance of bitumen, many scholars have undertaken work on the modification of bitumen using waste rubber powder [9,10]. It was found that waste rubber powder has many advantages as an asphalt modifier, such as improving the durability, fatigue resistance, and economic benefits of asphalt pavement [11][12][13]. Li et al pointed out that the aging resistance of waste-tire-rubber-powder-modified asphalt is also excellent [14].…”

Enhancing Railway Track Stabilization with Epoxy Resin and Crumb Rubber Powder-Modified Cement Asphalt Mortar

“…Recently, epoxy resin and crumb rubber powder (CRP) have gained significant attention as valuable additives in asphalt mixtures due to their unique properties and potential benefits [14][15][16]. Epoxy resin, known for its adhesive and cohesive characteristics, has been employed to enhance the bonding between asphalt and aggregate particles, resulting in improved asphalt mix durability [17][18][19].…”