Evaluation of Bitumen-PET content in Asphalt for Road Construction

Abstract

The incorporation of waste plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into asphalt binders presents a sustainable approach to enhance pavement performance while addressing environmental concerns. This study aims to evaluate PET-modified bitumen content for road construction applications. PET in form of plastic bottles ground into powder form was added to bitumen in varying percentages (2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) by weight of the bitumen. Both the control and modified bitumen were then subjected to standard tests such as penetration, ductility, softening point, viscosity, flash and fire point and loss on heating to determine their properties. The optimum PET content was then evaluated as 8% by weight of the bitumen which corresponded to the maximum penetration index value and was used to prepare the asphalt concrete in which the bitumen+PET content was varied in percentages of 5%, 6%, 7% and 8% by weight of the asphalt. The Marshall stability and flow, percent air voids, bulk density, voids in mineral aggregate (VMA) and voids filled with bitumen (VFB) of the asphalt concrete samples were determined and used to evaluate the optimum bitumen+PET content as 5.9% by weight of asphalt which can be used to produce high performance asphalt pavement.