Asphalt binder modified with high density polyethylene: 2S2P1D rheological modelling and damage characterization

ABSTRACT

The new needs in the paving industry have led to the intensification of the use of modified binders, and the use of plastics (non-biodegradable waste) can be an ally in facing both environmental and technical challenges. This study evaluated the feasibility of modifying a conventional asphalt binder with high density polyethylene (HDPE) at contents of 1, 3 and 5% for performance improvement, using rheological and performance tests. The linear viscoelastic properties were obtained by the temperature-frequency sweep test, and for the first time the 2S2P1D rheological model was used to describe these data for an HDPE-modified binder. Resistance to permanent deformation and fatigue was verified by the Multiple Stress Creep Recovery (MSCR) and Linear Amplitude Sweep (LAS) tests, respectively. The Fatigue Factor of Binder was obtained at 3 levels of strain for the first time for this material. HDPE made the material stiffer and more elastic observed by the coefficients of the 2S2P1D model. The modification resulted in better performance regarding permanent deformation and in general had an impact of less than 10% on the fatigue life of the material. Thus, it is possible to state that HDPE can be incorporated into the asphalt binder without harming its performance.

KEYWORDS:

• Plastic waste
• asphalt binder
• high density polyethylene
• 2S2P1D
• MSCR
• LAS

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Departamento Nacional de Infraestrutura de Transportes (DNIT), ANP/Petrobras, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) and Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) for their financial support and grants.

Disclosure statement

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