Optimizing the bituminous pavement constructions with waste plastic materials improved the road constructions performance and their future applications

Abstract

The yearly production of plastic garbage is rising in the current environment as a result of the fast population rise. Recycling and reusing plastic trash is essential for sustainable development. The need of the hour is to utilize waste polythene for various supporting reasons since it is not biodegradable. These materials are made of polymers like polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. Due to the enhanced performance and elimination of the environmental issue, adding plastic waste to flexible pavement has emerged as a desirable choice. A composite material known as bituminous concrete (BC) is often utilized in construction projects such as road paving, airport terminals, and stopover areas. It includes mineral aggregate and black top or bitumen, which are combined, laid down in layers, and then compacted. The bituminous mixture in this research article was combined with plastic to use a chemical stabilizer. The ideal bitumen content is replaced by 0, 15%, 27%, and 36% plastic, as well as the bitumen's weight, stability, and Marshall value to create hypothermal. A linear scale is used to compare the flow rates to the bituminous mixture. The characterization of plastics contains bituminous materials are done by the SEM–EDX, XRD, FTIR and BET analysis. There have been several studies on the addition of trash to bituminous mixes, but this one is focused on the use of plastic waste as a modification in a bitumen binder for flexible pavement. According to research, bituminous mixes containing up to 4 percent plastic waste are excellent for sustainable development.