Effect of maleic anhydride grafted and gamma-irradiated waste polypropylene on rheological properties of asphalt binder

ABSTRACT

Waste polymers have been employed as a modifier in bitumen to improve the performance of the binders and reduce plastic pollution. Grafting of maleic anhydride (MA) is a method to increase the chemical and physical consistency between the polymer and binder. In this study, maleic anhydride grafted waste polypropylene was employed as a bitumen modifier. Gamma irradiation is applied to waste polypropylene to improve the compatibility. The effects of MA-grafted irradiated waste polypropylene (PP${}_R$-γ-MA) on physical and rheological properties of bitumen were investigated through a test program. Storage stability tests signifies that the gamma irradiation could diminish the phase separation between the modifier and bitumen. The thermorheological tests showed employing PP${}_R$-γ-MA improves the high temperature performance, whilst it has a slightly adverse effect on low temperature performance of bitumen. The results of multiple stress creep recovery (MSCR) test indicate that PP${}_R$-γ-MA reduces the non-recoverable deformation and enhanced elastic recovery of the material, whereas the linear amplitude sweep (LAS) test result signifies PP${}_R$-γ-MA improved the fatigue life of asphalt by increasing fatigue damage resistance under different strain levels. The rheological test results emphasised on the usability of PP${}_R$-γ-MA as a modifier in binders.

KEYWORDS:

• Bitumen
• waste polymer
• grafting
• gamma irradiation
• rutting
• fatigue life

Data availability statement

Some or all data, models, or code generated or used in this study will be provided upon request.

Acknowledgments

This work was carried out in the framework of the joint international project No 110M400 of Ege University (Izmir, Turkey) and Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NASU, Kyiv, Ukraine) under the agreement between TUBITAK (Turkey) and NASU (Ukraine).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu.