Evaluation of the Effect of Recycled Waste Plastic Bags on Mechanical Properties of Hot Mix Asphalt Mixture for Road Construction

Abstract

Abstract: The use of recycled waste materials in road pavements is currently seen as a viable solution not just in terms of environmental sustainability, but also in terms of improving service performance.[1] This is particularly true when it comes to recycled plastics. Thin plastic bags are primarily composed of low-density Polyethylene and it’s commonly used for packaging, protecting and many other applications. Nevertheless, disposal of waste plastic bags in large quantities constitutes an environmental problem, as they considered non-biodegradable materials. Hence, there is a real need to find useful applications for these growing quantities of wastes. In this research, Waste Plastic Bags (WPB) as one form of polymers are used to investigate the potential prospects to enhance asphalt mixture properties. Research aims include studying the effect of partial replacing of different percentages of WPB pieces of the bitumen as binder modifiers on the properties of asphalt mix comparing it with conventional mix properties, besides identifying the optimum percent of WPB to be added in the hot mix asphalt. WPB were presented in the asphalt mixture in pieces with size (2 x 5 mm2 ). Marshal mix design procedure was used, first to determine the Optimum Bitumen Content (OBC) and then further to test the modified mixture properties. In total, (39) samples were prepared, 15 samples were used to determine the OBC and the remaining were used to investigate the effects adding different WPB percentages to asphalt mix. The OBC was 5.6 % by weight of asphalt mix. Seven proportions of WPB by weight of OBC were tested (2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20 and 24%), besides testing of ordinary asphalt mix. Tests include the determination of stability, bulk density, flow and air voids