Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania » Eastern Regional Research Center » Sustainable Biofuels and Co-products Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #400509

Research Project: Chemical Conversion of Biomass into High Value Products

Location: Sustainable Biofuels and Co-products Research

Title: Stability of repurposed plastics in asphalt binder

Author
item ALHADIDI, YUSRA - University Of Illinois
item AL-QADI, IMAD - University Of Illinois
item MAINIERI, JAVIER - University Of Illinois
item Sharma, Brajendra - Bk
item RAJAGOPALAN, NANDAKISHORE - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/22/2022
Publication Date: 6/13/2023
Citation: Alhadidi, Y.I., Al-Qadi, I.L., Mainieri, J.J., Sharma, B.K., Rajagopalan, N. 2023. Stability of repurposed plastics in asphalt binder. Meeting Abstract. 60-70. https://ascelibrary.org/doi/epdf/10.1061/9780784484906.006.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Five types of waste plastic streams were investigated for their compatibility with a PG 64-22 asphalt binder. The waste plastics included high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pails; low-density polyethylene (LDPE) food packaging waste; polypropylene (PP) from various waste sources, such as plastic cups, medicine bottles, black and whiteboards; polystyrene (PS) from food packaging; and plastic number 7 from various sources including polycarbonate, compact disc cases, and polycarbonate fibers. The plastics were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Thermogravimetric analysis was performed to optimize the blending. Storage stability of waste plastic modified binders was evaluated using the Cigar Tube Test (CTS); most tested waste plastic modified-binders appeared to be stable. Rheological tests were performed for rutting potential and cracking susceptibility, as well as multiple stress creep recovery test. No significant chemical changes were noticed when plastics were added. The rheological properties of waste plastic modified binder vary with respect to unmodified binder; most plastics exhibited degradation. The MSCR test showed no improvement in the elasticity of the non-recoverable strain for tested waste-plastic modified binders.