Low-density Polyethylene Content Research Articles

Modeling and design optimization of the performance of stone matrix asphalt mixtures containing low-density polyethylene and waste engine oil using the response surface methodology

In recent years, the use of waste plastic materials such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE) to modify asphalt binders and enhance mixture performance has garnered significant attention. One major concern with using such materials is the higher production temperature required, which necessitates the use of a bitumen extender agent, such as waste engine oil (WEO), to reduce the viscosity and mixing temperature. Therefore, using these stabilizing additives can reduce the consumption of virgin binder, especially for Stone Matrix Asphalt (SMA) mixtures, which require higher asphalt content. This study aimed to optimize the design of SMA modified by LDPE and WEO to minimize the optimum asphalt content (OAC) and mixing temperature while maximizing SMA performance. To achieve this, Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was utilized to develop the necessary models for optimizing design and predicting performance. The selected independent variables (factors) for the design include LDPE content, WEO content, OAC, and mixing temperature. Meanwhile, the responses (dependent variables) consist of Marshall stability, rut depth, tensile strength ratio, and resilient modulus, which were used to determine the best mix design. The findings demonstrated that the suggested models for the output variables can predict performance with a higher level of confidence. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) demonstrated that predictive models were significant and well-fitted, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of higher than 0.80, an adequate precision value of greater than 4, and a low p-value (less than 0.05). The error percentage between the RSM-predicted and actual values was less than 5 %, indicating that RSM-established models can accurately and efficiently predict the SMA performance. The best mix design of the SMA mixture modified by LDPE and WEO was found to be 10 % LDPE, 3.91 % WEO, 5.92 % OAC, and mixing temperature of 152.24°C with a combined desirability of 82.8 %.

Paving the Way for Sustainability: A Study on Porous Asphalt Mixtures Reinforced with LDPE Plastic Waste and Freshwater Mussel (Pilsbryoconcha Exilis) Shell Filler

This study aimed to explore the impact of different fillers, namely conventional (stone ash) and alternative (mussel shell powder), along with varying percentages of Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) additives, on the performance of porous asphalt mixtures. Asphalt mixtures' Marshall Stability and Flow were examined with LDPE percentages of 0%, 2%, 4%, and 6%. Results highlighted that the choice of filler and LDPE content significantly influences the mixture's stability and flow. A shift from 100% stone ash to 50% mussel shell powder resulted in a slight decrease in stability for 0% and 2% LDPE. In contrast, the stability was notably higher for 4% and 6% LDPE, including the alternative filler. Mixtures with 100% stone ash exhibited increased flow values with rising LDPE concentrations, while mixtures with 100% mussel shell powder showed an opposite trend. Furthermore, mixtures containing mussel powder generally had higher flow values than those with stone ash at similar LDPE percentages. The study underscores the intricate relationship between filler types and LDPE additives in influencing the properties of asphalt mixtures. These findings pave the way for the potential use of alternative fillers in asphalt mixtures, emphasizing the importance of understanding material interactions for optimal pavement design.

Influence of sequential melting and sintering process on morphology development and performance properties of ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene/low‐density polyethylene blends

AbstractBlending ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) with a low molecular weight polyolefin is a well‐established technique to improve its processability. The binary blends of UHMWPE and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) were prepared with varying LDPE content (10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, and 50% by wt.) leading to the formation of a single polymer composite system (SPCS) as melting and sintering followed preferential stages during mixing. Interestingly, the sequence of either “melting followed by sintering” or “simultaneous sintering and melting” depends on the LDPE content in the blend, resulting in unique blend morphology. Separate melting peaks for the blend's constituents were observed in thermal characterization, showing the blend's immiscibility, while intermediate peaks showed moderate miscibility in the melt state. Due to the high entanglement density, UHMWPE retained a solid‐like structure and showed an intense viscous nature even above the melting point in rheological characterization. Typically, the UHMWPE samples are fabricated by boundary fusion between particles called sintering. At LDPE content higher than 30 wt.%, the sea island structure was visible in morphological analysis, and the preexisting cavities reduced the tensile modulus by 54% in the blend, along with decreased elongation at failure (250%–100%). Similarly, the flexural modulus was reduced by 34.7% in the blends, along with the decreased flexural strength. Interestingly, the decrease in performance properties occurred in two steps over the range of LDPE content. Thus, it was clear that 30 wt.% of LDPE in the UHMWPE/LDPE blend represented the critical concentration for controlling melting and sintering sequence to develop specified morphology and performance properties. These blends have the potential for biomedical application as well as for the development of foam products, which is the further scope of the present study.

Comparative Analysis of Kerosene Grade Fuel from Pyrolysis of HDPE and LDPE Waste Plastics

To curb the menace of plastic waste and energy crisis, this study investigated the conversion of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) grades of plastics to kerosene. Plastics sourced from dumpsites within Port Harcourt metropolis in Rivers State, Nigeria were shredded and pyrolyzed (thermally degraded under inert condition at a temperature range of 350-400oC). The obtained hydrocarbon liquid was distilled using distillation column at a temperature range of 150-270oC and characterised to evaluate the physico-chemical parameters such as flash point, density, copper corrosion, and calorific value and compared against the acceptable standard. The result showed that these properties were within the permissible limit. However, the sulphur content and smoke point of HDPE and LDPE were above and below the limits, respectively. The GC-MS and GC-FID results of kerosene samples obtained from both grades of plastics indicates that the product comprised C9 to C17 grades.

Utilization of Ananas comosus Crown Residue Husk as a Sustainable Strength Additive for EPR/LDPE Blend Composites.

The utilization of waste generated by natural resources is a crucial problem nowadays. The current study describes the utilization of pineapple (Ananas comosus) crown residue husk (PCRh) as a strength additive for low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) composites. The blend composites with 30% husk, 10 wt % EPR, and 60% LDPE content showed much better mechanical properties, such as tensile strength and flexural properties, than pristine LDPE and its binary composite with 10 wt % EPR. The high tensile strength (∼19.28 MPa) and tensile modulus (522.97 MPa) were obtained for the composite consisting of 30 wt % PCRh in the basic polymer matrix. Similarly, the highest flexural strength (∼18.09 MPa) and modulus (∼790.29 MPa) were recorded for the same composition. The incorporation of PCRh with LDPE and EPR was further characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared, differential scanning calorimetry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, dynamic mechanical analysis, and a universal testing machine to evaluate its impact on various properties.

Pengaruh Penggunaan Limbah Plastik LDPE sebagai Modifikator Campuran AC-WC

In recent years, the increasing amount of plastic waste in many cities in developing countries, including Kupang City, has become a serious environmental problem. The use of plastic waste as a pavement material is one solution to deal with the problem of plastic waste. One type of plastic that can be used as an asphalt mixture modification material is Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE). This research aims to determine the use of LDPE plastic waste modified with AC-WC (Asphalt Concrete-Wearing Course). Five variations of AC-WC mixture were made based on LDPE plastic waste content of 6, 7, 8, 9, 10% based on optimum bitumen content (OBC). Marshall test method was used to determine the OBC and to evaluate the marshall characteristics of LDPE modified AC-WC. The OBC of conventional AC-WC was found to be 5.23% by weight of total aggregate while the ptimum plastic modified bitumen content (OPMBC) of LDPE modified AC-WC was 7.45% by weight of OBC. AC-WC modified with 7.45% LDPE waste had 47.98% higher OPMBC compared to conventional AC-WC

Enhanced sand strength through low-density polyethylene reinforcement

The current study examined the impact of incorporating low-density polyethylene (LDPE) on the behavior of sand through consolidated-drained triaxial tests. The tests varied parameters such as percentage addition and inter-particle void ratio. Results showed that the peak strength of LDPE-mixed sand increased by roughly 40% for 1.5% to 2.0% LDPE content compared to unreinforced specimens. However, peak strength decreased with further increases in LDPE content beyond 2.0%. Thus, LDPE content of 1.5% to 2.0% was identified as the optimal mass percentage for increasing sand strength. The shear stiffness of the LDPE mixed sand also decreased by 25–35% compared to unreinforced samples. The study attributed strength variation and stiffness reduction of sand mixed with LDPE to friction characteristics between sand particle-to-sand particle, sand particles-to-LDPE, and LDPE-to-LDPE, and microscopic observations of the specimens. Although low-friction LDPE reduced initial stiffness, peak strength increased due to the pullout resistance of LDPE sheets across potential shear bands. However, excessive LDPE addition caused pronounced overlapping of LDPE sheets, leading to a decrease in frictional properties and a reduction in strength.

Composition analysis of post‐consumer recycled blends of linear low‐ and low‐density polyethylene using a solution‐based technique

AbstractBlends of linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) are commonly used in film applications, including those made with post‐consumer recycled (PCR) film resins. The ratio of LLDPE/LDPE in PCR resins can vary based on the complexity of the waste stream, making it essential to determine their composition before incorporating them into virgin resins through mechanical recycling. In this study, we propose a quantitative analysis using a solution‐based crystallization elution fractionation (CEF) technique to determine the composition of PCR LLDPE/LDPE blends. The results were compared with those obtained by a standard differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. A series of Ziegler–Natta catalyzed LLDPE resins were blended with LDPE to establish the CEF calibration curves. The CEF calibration curves were found to be similar for 1‐butene LLDPE/LDPE and 1‐hexene LLDPE/LDPE blends. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance were used as needed to determine the type of comonomer in the LLDPE component for the DSC methodology, which varies the calibration curve. We found that the CEF and DSC techniques provide comparable results in terms of LDPE content for neat polymer blends, depending on the density of each component. However, the proposed CEF technique provides more accurate and reliable results than previously published techniques in estimating LDPE content in PCR LLDPE/LDPE blends that may contain inorganic compounds.

Effect of Adding LDPE Bags on Rutting and Stripping Behaviour of Asphalt Mix

Disposal or incineration of waste low-density polyethylene (LDPE) bags is a major problem, as it causes pollution. The pavement over time gets deteriorated by vehicular traffic, which mostly results in rutting and other distresses. This research is based on the performance evaluation of hot mix asphalt (HMA) modified with LDPE. Aggregates National Highway Authority Pakistan (NHA) gradation B, bitumen grade 60/70 and waste LDPE bags from the dump yards of Islamabad (Pakistan) were used in this study. Penetration, ductility and softening-point tests were conducted with bitumen modified with different contents of waste LDPE bag flakes; i.e., 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% to figure out the optimum modifier content (OMC). Marshall testing was performed for the determination of optimum bitumen content (OBC). Using OBC and incorporating LDPE contents as a replacement for OBC, HMA samples were tested for performance evaluation, including rutting resistance and moisture susceptibility and compared with the performance of unmodified HMA. It was observed that 4% of LDPE as a replacement for OBC in the HMA can be used as OMC and yielded better performance results than unmodified asphalt mix. Rutting resistance was improved by 20.86% and tensile strength ratio (TSR) for moisture susceptibility evaluation was above the specified limit of 80%. KEYWORDS: Waste LDPE bags, Low-cost bitumen modifier, Performance evaluation, Performance improvement, Cost comparison, Sustainable environment.

Torrefaction of olive pomace with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic and its interactive effects

Olive Pomace (OP) biomass has a high potential for biofuel production. Dry torrefaction of OP was carried out at 200–290 °C in an inert environment in a tubular reactor. Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) is the most common plastic seen in landfills. Therefore, the blends of Olive Pomace with LDPE were torrefied at different ratios. The product yield and characteristics of torrefied OP were studied. As the temperature increased, the torrefied OP's mass yield decreased while the HHV increased. In the case of OP-LDPE blends, mass yield and HHV increased with the increase in LDPE content. Results showed that mass yield ranged between 59.2–82.6% for torrefied olive pomace depending on torrefaction temperature. 12% increase in mass yield was noticed when 30 wt% LDPE was blended with OP as compared to the OP at 240 °C. As for fuel properties, torrefaction enhanced HHV from 19.8 to 24.2 and 25.5 MJ/kg for OP at 290 °C and OP-LDPE blend of 30% plastic at 240 °C, respectively. Additionally, the fuel ratio rose to 0.4; the combustibility index reduced to 63.5 MJ/kg for torrefied biomass at 240 °C. The fuel ratio drastically dropped when LDPE was blended with olive pomace, reaching 0.09 with a combustibility index of 284.55 MJ/kg. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that hemicellulose decomposed at the specified temperature range (>200 °C), while cellulose and lignin partially decomposed. TGA showed that plastic breaks down at one stage at temperatures greater than 400 °C. According to Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), adding LDPE replaced alkenyl groups with ketones and aldehydes. FESEM analysis showed that adding plastic clogged biomass pores resulted in higher mass yield.

Fabrication, characterization and mechanical properties of hematite (a-Fe2O3) filled natural rubber/low-density polyethylene composites

In this study, natural rubber (NR) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) were melt blended in a 2-roll mill to fabricate NR/LDPE composites with liquid natural rubber (LNR) and hematite (a-Fe2O3) as compatibilizer and filler respectively. The effects of liquid natural rubber (LNR) on the mechanical properties and morphology of NR/LDPE composites were investigated. NR/LDPE composites were prepared in three different compositions of 70/30, 50/50 and 30/70, with filler content at varying concentrations (3, 5 and 7 g) while LNR was kept at 10 g for the modified composites. Results obtained showed increment in the tensile strength, tensile modulus, compressive and flexural properties but with decrease in the elongation at break the a-Fe2O3 and LDPE contents increase. The modification of the composites with LNR further enhanced the mechanical properties. FTIR spectrum of LNR revealed a peak at 3395 cm-1 suggesting the hydroxyl (OH) end group attached to the LNR chain due to the photochemical degradation of NR to yield LNR. FTIR spectra of the selected composites showed the presence of iron oxide bond (Fe-O) at 571 cm-1, 467 cm-1 and 463 cm-1 due to the incorporation of a-Fe2O3 filler particles in the composites. SEM images showed improved matrix/filler interfacial adhesion induced by the LNR compatibilizer.

Rheology modifier additive for enhanced processability of polyethylene forblown‐Filmapplications

AbstractPolyethylene is a versatile polymer suitable for a large variety of flexible and rigid packaging applications. Its mechanical and rheological properties can be tuned across a wide range by controlling its molecular architecture, such as the amount and distribution of olefinic comonomers (short chain branching), long chain branching, and molecular weight distribution. Linear low‐density polyethylene (LLDPE) is known for its high toughness which enables downgauged film structures and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) is known for its excellent shear thinning and melt strength which enables enhanced processability and high throughput, such as on blown film lines. In order to obtain a balance of toughness and processability on films produced on blown film lines, blends of LLDPE and LDPE are commonly used. In this paper, we describe additive‐based approaches, including a new product, DOWLEX™ (TM = trademark of the Dow Chemical Company (“Dow”) or an affiliated company of Dow) GM AX01, which enhances melt strength and other rheological properties of polyethylene, enabling fabrication of films with lower LDPE content while still maintaining excellent rheological properties and higher toughness versus conventional LLDPE/LDPE blends. The higher toughness enables downgauging without loss of mechanical properties, which in turn reduces consumption of polymer resulting in a more sustainable solution.

ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy Combined with Chemometric Methods for the Classification of Polyethylene Residues Containing Different Contaminants

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) and high density polyethylene (HDPE) are the principal plastics present in solid plastic waste and are found out as the main components of microplastics in marine and terrestrial environments. Currently, efforts have been made to develop new and effective methods to ensure the identification and separation of plastics in waste, ensuring the necessary purity to obtain quality and economically competitive recycled products. In this contribution, we investigated the usage of Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy in Attenuated Total Reflection mode (ATR-FTIR) combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Partial Least Squares Regression by Intervals (iPLS-R) and Competitive Adaptive Weighted Sampling (CARS/PLS-R) as chemometric methods to classify and determine the compositional fraction of the pristine and recycled mixtures of HDPE and LDPE from plastic waste in São Paulo, Brazil. Here, the 3D PCA plots were not effective in classifying the different polyethylenes and their polymer blends using the three main Principal Components (PC), but 2D PCA diagrams using PC1 and PC3 presented promising performance for this purpose. The iPLS-R presents the best predictive ability than CARS/PLS-R to determine the LDPE content in HDPE/LDPE recycled blends. However, the presence of different contaminants (in 5 wt%), such as silicon dioxide (SiO2), calcium carbonate (CaCO3), recycled polypropylene (PP), and recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), reduces the potential usage of the iPLS-R models as identification tools for LDPE and HDPE sorting in industrial recycling processes.

Activated carbon prepared by co-pyrolysis of waste tobacco straw and waste LDPE mulch film: characterization and application for methylene blue removal.

Efficient and inexpensive sorbents play a key role in removing organic pollutants from water bodies. In this study, a series of high surface area activated carbons (ACs) with excellent adsorption performance was prepared by co-pyrolysis of the waste tobacco straw and the waste low-density polyethylene (LDPE) mulch film. Using the maximum adsorption capacity of methylene blue (MB) as an indicator, the variables such as LDPE content, K2CO3 to raw material ratio, activation time, and activation temperature were optimized. The optimal synthesis conditions were as follows: LDPE content of 40%, K2CO3/raw material ratio of 1 : 2, activation temperature of 900 °C, and activation time of 100 min. The maximum adsorption capacity of MB was up to 849.91 mg g-1. The results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and BET showed that the moderate addition of LDPE was beneficial to the pyrolysis of the waste tobacco straw, bringing about the enrichment of surface groups (-OH, -COOH) and increasing its specific surface area and pore volume (up to 1566.7 m2 g-1 and 0.996 cm3 g-1, respectively). The equilibrium data of MB adsorption by the composite activated carbon (PAC) was consistent with the Langmuir isotherm, while the adsorption kinetics were better described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. This work reveals the feasibility of LDPE mulch film and waste tobacco straw as potential and inexpensive precursors for preparing high surface area AC adsorbents.

Copyrolysis of rice husk and plastic bags waste from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) for improving pyrolysis liquid product

Rice husk is an agricultural waste from the rice milling process that results in environmental problems during its handling. Biomass (such as rice husk) can be transformed into biofuel via pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is a thermal decomposition of organic compounds in biomass at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen. The main difference of pyrolysis liquid compared to fossil fuel is the significant amount of oxygen (O) content instead of its carbon (C) and hydrogen (H). Thus, making pyrolysis liquid has a lower heating value and inferior properties limiting its direct fuel application. On the other hand, plastic bag waste from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) contains a high C and H with almost no O content. This study conducted co-pyrolysis of rice husk and LDPE at a different percentage (%weight) of LDPE (0, 5, 15, 25, 50, and 75). The pyrolysis temperature was measured using a comparison of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves of rice husk powder and LDPE. The pyrolysis liquid resulted was collected and analyzed. The results show that the increase of LDPE content caused the yield of the organic phase (desired as fuel) of pyrolysis liquid to increase. The properties in the term of heating value also increased while the viscosity and density of pyrolysis liquid decreased. These properties were almost similar to diesel fuel with a slightly lower heating value. However, at 50 % LDPE composition, the wax was formed. Therefore, the optimum composition was 25% of LDPE, resulting in 41.69 MJ/kg of heating value.

Recycling Polymer Blend made from Post-used Styrofoam and Polyethylene for Fuse Deposition Modelling

Styrofoam is widely used as packaging material for many applications like home furniture and electrical appliance. Styrofoam is a non-biodegradable material which its disposal causes serious environment issues. This research demonstrates an alternate recycling method of Styrofoam waste by converting it into 3D printing filament for Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM). For this research, the recycled polystyrene (rPS) was extracted from Styrofoam waste and blended with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), then extruded into filament using a filament extruder. The formulated rPS/LDPE blend with different blend ratio exhibited a good printability when the printing temperature and extrusion rate fixed at 240°C and 120%. However, the tensile strength of printed specimens with rPS/LDPE blends were lower than printed specimen with neat rPS. The tensile strength and modulus of printed specimens with rPS/LDPE were decreased due to the increase of LDPE content. The decrease of tensile strength mainly caused by the incompatibility between the rPS and LDPE phases. However, the addition of more LDPE content in the blend enhanced the ductility of rPS/LDPE blends. Furthermore, the increase of LDPE content also increased the thermal stability of rPS/LDPE blends. Overall, the rPS/LDPE blend is a potential alternate material for producing FDM filament.

The Influence of Short Chain Branch on the Crystal Characteristics and Breakdown Strength of Low-Density Polyethylene

Studying the influence of short chain branch (SCB) on the crystal properties and breakdown strength of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plays an important role in improving the electrical and mechanical properties of LDPE by adjusting the molecular structure. In this work, the SCB and long chain branch (LCB) content of LDPE are quantitatively characterized. Grain size, crystallinity and breakdown strength of LDPE (including AC and DC) are calculated through related characterization experiments. The results show that the SCB content in LDPE is dozens of times that of LCB. Reducing the SCB content can reduce the grain size of 110 face in LDPE and improve the AC and DC breakdown strength. The trap distribution characteristics measured by the thermally stimulated depolarization current (TSDC) method show that the SCB inhibits the formation of deep cavity defects in the LDPE interface area and decreases the trap energy level of crystal defects. This inspired us to improve the breakdown strength by reducing the SCB content in LDPE.

Applying confocal Raman spectroscopy and different linear multivariate analyses to sort polyethylene residues

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and recycled Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) (PET) are widely applied as packaging materials worldwide, and they correspond to more than 50 % of the plastic residues present in municipal solid waste. Currently, it is needed to develop effective methods to ensure the identification and sorting of plastic waste to guarantee necessary purity to obtain quality and economically viable recycled goods from post-consumer plastic. As an attempt to that, we investigated the applicability of Confocal Raman Scattering Spectroscopy (Confocal Raman) combined with Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Linear Partial Least Squares Regression by Intervals (iPLS-R) and Competitive Adaptive Weighted Sampling (CARS/PLS-R) as fast chemometric tools to identify and classify pristine and recycled mixtures of HDPE and LDPE from municipal solid waste in São Paulo, Brazil. We found several limitations in applying this procedure to classify the different polyethylenes and their polymer blends using the Principal Components (PC) from PCA analysis. iPLS-R regression model presents more effectiveness than the CARS/PLS-R model to detect the LDPE content in recycled HDPE/LDPE blends, both being influenced by different contaminants (PP, PET, SiO2, and CaCO3) added in these recycled plastics.

Rheological properties of high-density polyethylene/linear low-density polyethylene and high-density polyethylene/low-density polyethylene blends

In this work, the effect of the linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) containing 1-butene or 1-hexene α-olefin short-chain branching (SCB) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) containing long-chain branching (LCB) on the rheological properties of high-density polyethylene (HDPE)/LLDPE and HDPE/LDPE blends was investigated. The neat polymers and the blends were characterized by torque rheometry and rheological measurements under dynamic oscillatory shear flow. From torque rheometry analysis, an increase in the viscosity of HDPE/LLDPE blends with the increase in LLDPE content was observed. The inverse was observed for HDPE/LDPE blend, where the viscosity decreased with the increase in the LDPE content. Rheological measurements showed an increase in the complex viscosity of the HDPE/LLDPE and HDPE/LDPE blends with the increase in the LLDPE or LDPE content. HDPE/LDPE blends showed a strong shear-thinning behavior due to the presence of LCB in LDPE. Similar rheological behavior was observed for HDPE/LLDPE blends containing 1-butene and 1-hexene SCB. Cole–Cole, Han plots, and van Gurp–Palmen plots indicated miscibility between HDPE and LLDPE and immiscibility between HDPE and LDPE.

EVALUATION THE EFFECT OF WASTE LO-DENSITY POLYTHLENE AND CRUMBRUBBER ON PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ASPHALT

Nowadays, Polymer Modified Binder (PMB) is necessary due to its valuable characteristics on asphalt pavement layers with increase in traffic volume and loads. However, current trend in asphalt modification is prefer the waste and by product materials for ensuring the sustainability and cost effectiveness. Therefore, to analyze the effect of waste Crumb Rubber Modifier (CRM) and waste Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) on the asphalt binders’ physical properties, CRM/LDPE modified asphalts with different contents were prepared and investigated in this study. Measured physical characteristics were softening point, penetration, ductility and viscosity tests. Conversions of CRM and waste LDPE to functional materials have been introduced in this research study as a practical approach to improve the asphalt binder’s physical properties. CRM and LDPE in the form of fine having a particle size under 250 µm were used as additives to liquid asphalt, individually and collectively by weight of virgin asphalt, i.e., (5.0%, 15.0% and 25.0% of CRM) and (2.5. %, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% of LDPE), after mixed with CRM and LDPE, the asphalts showed decrease in penetration, increase in softening point and rotational viscosity. This referring that both intermediate and high temperature rheological characteristics of the asphalts have been improved by the modification of waste CRM and LDPE, because that mean the stiffness of asphalt binder increases when changing these characteristics and Thus, the asphalt mixture will become more stiff and resistant to possible failures, the Physical properties of the CRM or LDPE modified asphalts are largely dependent on the waste CRM or LDPE content, and many other enhanced characteristics of the mechanical aspect can be targeted using the composite of both CRM and LDPE. However, such result confirms the validity of waste polymer in modifying the asphalt binder.