Analysis of Mechanical Performance of Bitumen Modified with Waste Plastic and Rubber Additives by Rheology and Self Diffusion NMR Experiments

Abstract

In this study, the mechanical and physico-chemical properties of a new kind of modified bitumen are presented. The bituminous binders have been modified in or­der to understand the effect on the structural properties of several compounds such as a Polymer elastomer (SBR), Polymer thermoplastic (PP) and a waste plastic (Waste PP). Laboratory tests have been focused on the characterization of bitumen modified with single product and their binary combinations compared with pristine binder as a reference. Characterization has been conducted by using conventional as well as advanced methods on bitumens. Fundamental rheological tests, based on dynamic shear rheometer in the temperature range from -30 °C to +160 °C have been performed and the structure of a bitumens and modified bitumens has been analysed by the mobility of the oily maltene by self-diffusion Pulsed field gradient spin-echo (PGSE) FT-NMR experiments.

Keywords

• waste plastic
• bitumen
• stability
• plastic waste
• rheology