Influence of Waste Materials on the Performance and Durability of Bituminous Mixes

Abstract

In the present scenario, roads play a crucial role in enhancing connectivity between urban and rural areas, linking them to national and state highways. However, the high cost of road construction remains a significant challenge. To address this issue, it is essential to explore alternative materials that can replace conventional ones, thereby reducing costs without compromising structural integrity and performance. India has the second-largest road network globally, after China, and is also among the top waste-producing countries. Therefore, utilizing waste materials in flexible pavement construction presents a cost-effective and sustainable approach. Several studies worldwide have investigated the potential use of various waste materials, such as plastic waste (polythene, PET bottles, plastic bags, and wrappers), waste tire rubber, granite sludge, and waste engine oil, in bituminous mixes. Research findings indicate that incorporating waste materials in flexible pavements can enhance durability, improve resistance to rutting and moisture damage, and reduce environmental pollution. Previous studies suggest that up to 30% waste material can be used without compromising essential pavement properties. Particularly in rural areas, integrating waste-based materials into road construction can significantly lower costs while promoting better infrastructure development. In the current context of sustainable development, adopting waste materials in pavement construction aligns with environmental and economic objectives, making it a viable solution for future road networks.

Introduction

With growing population and plastic use, waste accumulation and pollution have become critical environmental challenges. Non-degradable waste like plastics and tyres persist for centuries, urging the development of sustainable disposal methods. Recycling waste into road construction materials offers an eco-friendly and cost-effective solution, improving pavement performance and durability.

Several studies highlight the benefits of incorporating plastic waste, crumb rubber, steel slag, and waste engine oil into bituminous mixes. These modified mixes show enhanced mechanical properties, such as increased Marshall Stability, reduced water absorption, improved abrasion resistance, and better load-bearing capacity, leading to longer-lasting roads.

India produces vast quantities of plastic waste (over 10 million tonnes annually), waste tyres, and engine oil, much of which ends up in landfills or causes pollution. Utilizing these waste materials in road construction can reduce environmental hazards, minimize landfill use, lower greenhouse emissions, and support sustainable infrastructure.

Two main processes—dry and wet—are used for incorporating waste into bitumen, with the dry process being more common for road construction. Testing methods such as penetration, Marshall Stability, and abrasion tests validate the improved performance of these waste-modified mixes.

The research objectives focus on minimizing bitumen use by partially replacing it with waste materials to achieve cost-effectiveness and environmental benefits without compromising road quality.

Conclusion

In this study, bitumen was modified using various waste materials including LDPE, HDPE, CRMB powder, and waste engine oil. The results revealed that the addition of LDPE generally reduced the penetration value; however, with a further increase in LDPE content, the penetration value began to rise. In the softening point test, it was observed that increasing the LDPE content led to a decrease in the softening point of the modified bitumen. Similarly, the ductility initially decreased and then began to increase as the proportion of LDPE increased, in comparison to the conventional mix. The specific gravity of all LDPE-modified samples remained nearly constant. For samples containing waste engine oil, the penetration value initially dropped, but increased again as the content rose, with the maximum effective range being up to 8%. According to the ductility and softening point test results, the optimum performance was noted at 6% engine oil content, suggesting this percentage as suitable for blending with bitumen. When CRMB powder was used, improvements were seen in penetration, ductility, and softening point values up to 8% content, indicating that this level is optimal for use with VG10 bitumen. In the case of HDPE-modified bitumen, a decrease in penetration was observed with 2% HDPE, but further increases in content led to rising penetration values up to 7%. The ductility showed a similar trend, with an initial drop followed by a steady increase as HDPE content was raised. The softening point, however, increased with 2% HDPE but started to decline as more HDPE was added. Regarding the mixed compositions of waste materials, the blend containing 3% HDPE + 4% engine oil + 5% CRMB powder exhibited the highest penetration value. The highest softening point was recorded for the sample containing 5% CRMB powder + 2% LDPE + 3% HDPE. In terms of ductility, the mixture with 3% HDPE + 4% engine oil + 5% CRMB powder demonstrated superior flexibility compared to the other samples. Across all compositions, the specific gravity remained nearly unchanged.

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Sanjana Sharma, Akhand Pratap Singh, Dr. R. R. L. Birali. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.