Study of the interaction between asphalt and plastic wastes in new polymer modified binders (PMB)

The aim of this study is evaluating the interaction between several base pen grade asphalt binders (35/50, 50/70, 70/100, 160/220) and two different plastic wastes (EVA and HDPE), for a set of new polymer modified binders produced with different amounts of both plastic wastes. After analysing the results obtained for the several polymer modified binders evaluated in this study, including a commercial modified binder, it can be concluded that the new PMBs produced with the base bitumen 70/100 and 5% of each plastic waste (HDPE or EVA) results in binders with very good performance, similar to that of the commercial modified binder.

FEDER funds through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness Factors -COMPETE and National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the project PLASTIROADS (PTDC/ECM/119179/2010) . The authors would also like to acknowledge the contribution of the company ELEVO Group through the project “Energy Efficiency and Environmental Design of Bituminous Mixtures to Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases” (QREN-SI 090528), carried out in cooperation with the University of Minho