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

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied sciences 2022-03, Vol.12 (5), p.2526
Main Authors: Martinho, Fernando C. G., Picado-Santos, Luís G., Lemos, Francisco M. S., Lemos, Maria Amélia N. D. A., Santos, Everton R. F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Additives
Asphalt mixes
Binders
bitumen
Circular economy
Consistency tests
Costs
Deformation resistance
High density polyethylenes
Hydrocarbons
Hypotheses
Low density polyethylenes
Plastic debris
plastic waste
Plastics
Polyethylene
Polymers
Pyrolysis
Recycling
Rheological properties
Sustainable development
Sustainable materials
sustainable wax
Viscosity
Waxes
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Summary: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.
ISSN:2076-3417
2076-3417
DOI:10.3390/app12052526