Using Plastic Waste in a Circular Economy Approach to Improve the Properties of Bituminous Binders

Abstract

This work aims to use wax to modify a binder employed in the paving industry. This wax can be obtained either directly or as a by-product from plastic waste′s thermal cracking (pyrolysis). The study characterizes this sustainable material and the binders resulting from blending it with conventional or modified bitumen with other additives applied in the manufacture of bituminous mixtures. Different tests were used: thermogravimetric and spectroscopic analysis; consistency tests; testing of dynamic viscosity at various temperatures; and assessment of the rheologic properties of binders. As a result, several crucial findings were reached: this sustainable wax promotes changes in the viscosity of the binders, their handling temperatures can be reduced, and it contributes to some goals of the U.N. 2030 Agenda. In summary, this work allowed us to conclude that the positive effects of a suitable modification of the bituminous binders, which incorporated this wax and other additives, led to improved consistency and rheological behaviour, having provided, for example, lower temperature susceptibility and higher permanent deformation resistance.

A bibliometric analysis and review on the performance of polymer-modified bitumen

“…Accordingly, vigorous efforts by researchers have been made to improve performance of bitumen in terms of hardness and elasticity. Modifying bitumen with polymers is one of the well-known approaches in enhancing performance of bitumen (Brasileiro et al, 2019;Nizamuddin et al, 2021;Martinho et al, 2022). It is documented that introducing polymer to a base binder significantly improves the hardness of bitumen at high temperatures and lowtemperature performance through enhancing elasticity of the base binder.…”