Oxidative Aging Characterization of Pyro-Oil Modified Binders Using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Abstract

In order to obtain asphalt binder with enhanced quality to resist distresses like rutting, fatigue, and low-temperature cracking, there is a need to focus on asphalt binder modifi cation. The accumulation of plastic waste is a direct result of the daily rise in plastic demand. One of the eff ective and trending ways of reducing the impact of plastic waste on the environment is to pyrolyze it and use the oil obtained from it as fuel for power generation, heating, extraction of chemicals, or as an asphalt binder modifi er. This paper deals with the modifi cation of VG30 binder with pyro-oil obtained from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste, and analysing the eff ect of modifi cation on the short term aging of the binders. Pyro-oil is yielded from the pyrolysis process of HDPE at about 750 °C. The modifi ed binders were prepared by adding 1%, 2%, and 3% pyro-oil by total weight of VG30. The binders were short-term aged and the changes in their chemical functionalities before and after aging were evaluated using fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Results of the FTIR test were used to calculate functional group indices for evaluating the aging characteristics of the modifi ed binders. It was observed that the pyro-oil interacts chemically with VG30 and binder chemistry is infl uenced by aging. It was also observed that, modifi cation with pyro-oil increases the resistance to aging of the binders.