Performance evaluation of bitumen modified by various types of waste plastics

This study investigates the performance of bitumen modified by three groups of waste plastics (window, blinds and cable wastes) based polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Ten modified with the modifier content 1%, 3%, 5% and pure bitumens were tested and characterized in accordance with the Superpave performance grading (PG) system. The experimental tests performed in the study were conventional tests, rotational viscosity (RV), dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR) tests. The obtained results showed that the addition PVC window and blinds wastes in the amount of 1-3% improved performance of modified bitumens at high temperatures. Despite the advantages of window waste and blinds waste additives on modified bitumen performance at high temperatures, at low temperatures performance of bitumen was not affected by these modifiers. Only cable wastes in the amount of 5% improved performance of bitumen at low temperatures. Based on the results of this investigation it can be noted that optimum usage of the waste plastics as modifier in bitumen were determined as in the amount of 3% window wastes. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.