EVALUATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF HOT MIX ASPHALT USING AN ASPHALT BINDER MODIFIED WITH HIGH-DENSITY POLYETHENE WASTE

Abstract

This study explores the potential of using readily available High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) waste at 2%, 4%, and 6% by weight of bitumen with a penetration grade of 40–50, to address plastic waste utilization and investigates the effect of modification range on the physical properties of the modified asphalt binder and the mechanical properties of the modified Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). Penetration, softening point, and ductility tests were conducted to examine the physical properties of the asphalt binder, while measurements such as Marshall Quotient (MQ) using the Marshall stability and flow test, and Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR) using the Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) test, were performed to evaluate the performance of the HMA. The results indicated that increasing the proportion of finely ground HDPE waste improved the physical properties of the asphalt binder by reducing penetration and raising softening point values; however, a decrease in ductility was observed compared to unmodified bitumen, indicating an enhancement in consistency and temperature susceptibility. Marshall stability tests, along with mix performance criteria including the MQ index, provided positive indications of resistance to deformation and susceptibility to moisture. Stability improved by 50.6%, and TSR by 17.3% compared to the reference samples at a concentration of 6%, which was found to be the optimal concentration for HDPE waste in this study. Overall, HDPE waste concentrations performed better in all laboratory tests than the reference mixtures. This suggests that HDPE waste can contribute to improving the cohesion and bonding strength of asphalt mixture components, thereby increasing durability.