Department of Civil Engineering, Major Project, December-2016

USE OF WASTE PLASTIC IN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS

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Department of Civil Engineering, Delhi Technological University, Delhi, India

Abstract
We are familiar with the problems that our environment
face due to plastics, as these consumes massive energy
and other natural resources, depleting the environment
in various ways. Moreover, their disposal has always
been a constant headache and problem for the society.
But plastics usage cant be completely ostracized as it
will result in depletion of other natural resources like
paper, wood at great extent.
The light weight, cost effectiveness and strength of
plastics can be put in to various good uses. The
softening point of plastic is achieved at about 160
degrees Celsius. These properties of plastics will play a
good role in construction of roads. The softened plastic
can be laminated over hot aggregates and can be used as
an alternative to the very costly bitumen used as a binder
in road construction.
The main objective of this paper is to discuss the
significance of plastic use in road construction in terms
of strength and cost reduction.
Key words
Aggregates, Flexible Pavement, Shredded plastic,
Marshall Stability.
1. Introduction
Plastics are omnipresent in neoteric life. It is the nonbiodegradability of the plastic due to which these pose
environment pollution
.
But because plastics are so much in use, their ban just on
emotional grounds cannot be processed. The real cost
will be much higher and many degradable resources
would be hence used as a replacement. And what other
frugal options are we left with?
Hence rather than completely banning the plastics we
must think of a more judicious use of reuse of plastic
waste.
Now, one of the few solutions is that we can use this
Waste plastic in flexible pavement in such a manner that

it gets coated over the surface aggregate by heating at

around 150 degrees Celsius.
The tests performed depict that these can considerably
reduce the cost and increase the stability of roads. Also it
is an effective step towards eco friendliness compared to
conventionality.
2. Objective
1. To identify the optimum proportion of
waste plastic to be added in the bitumen
mix for getting the required strength.
2. To perform an economic analysis of the
green road so constructed.
3. Experimental Programme
3.1 Material Used and Its Properties
Bitumen-VG-30 penetration grade bitumen was used for
the present study. Various tests were performed for
determining the physical properties of the bitumen and
the test results were tabulated. Results were compared
with the standard values as per CPWD specifications
SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF BITUMEN
AIM: To determine the specific gravity of given sample
of bitumen
THEORY:
Specific gravity of bituminous material is defined as
ratio of mass of given volume of substance to the equal
volume of water, temperature of both being 27C.
PROCEDURE:
The specific gravity bottle is cleaned, dried and weighed.
Water is filled in it and weight of bottle along with water
is taken. Bituminous material is heated to pouring
temperature and poured in the bottle to its one-fourth.
Sample is cooled for 30 minutes in air ans then weighed.

Then water is filled in it and weight is taken. From the

weights taken, the specific gravity of bitumen can be
found out.
RECOMMENDED VALUES:
The specific gravity of pure bitumen ranges from 0.97 to
1.02. according to Indian Standard (BIS) minimum
specific gravity of paving bitumen at 27C shall be 0.99.
PENETRATION VALUE OF BITUMEN
AIM:
(i) To determine the consistency of bituminous material
(ii) To assess the suitability of bitumen for use under
different climatic conditions and various types of
construction.
THEORY:
Penetration value is a measure of hardness or consistency
of bituminous material. It is the vertical distance
traversed or penetrated by the point of a standard needle
in to the bituminous material under specific conditions of
load, time and temperature. This distance is measured in
one tenths of a millimeter. This test is used for evaluating
consistency of bitumen. It is not regarded as suitable for
use in connection with the testing of road tar because of
the high surface tension exhibited by these materials.
PROCEDURE:
(i) Preparation of test specimen: Soften the material to a
pouring consistency at a temperature not more than 60C
for tars and 90C for bitumen above the approximate
softening point and stir it thoroughly until it is
homogeneous and is free from air bubbles and water.
10mm in excess of the expected penetration. Protect the
sample from dust and allow it to cool in an atmosphere at
a temperature between 15 to 30 C for one hour. Then
place it along with the transfer dish in the water bath at
25C, unless otherwise stated.
(ii) Fill the transfer dish with water from the water bath
to depth sufficient to cover the container completely,
place the sample in it and put it upon the stand of the
penetration apparatus.
(iii) Clean the needle with benzene, dry it and load with
the weight. The total moving load required is 100 0.25
gms, including the weight of the needle, carrier and
super-imposed weights.
(iv) Adjust the needle to make contact with the surface of
the sample. This may be done by placing the needlepoint
in contact with its image reflected by the surface of the
bituminous material.
(i) Make the pointer of the dial to read zero or note the
initial dial reading.

(ii) Release the needle for exactly five seconds.

(vi) Adjust the penetration machine to measure the
distance penetrated.
RECOMMENDED VALUE:
Penetration test is a commonly adopted test on bitumen
to grade the material in terms of its hardness. A 80/100
grade bitumen indicates that its penetration value lies
between 80 & 100.Grading of bitumen helps to assess its
suitability in different climatic conditions and types of
construction. For bituminous macadam and penetration
macadam, IRC suggests bitumen grades 30/40, 60/70,
80/100. In warmer regions, lower penetration grades are
preferred to avoid softening whereas higher penetration
grades like 180/200 are used in colder regions to prevent
the occurrence of excessive brittleness. High penetration
grade is used in spray application works.
SOFTENING POINT OF BIUMINOUS MATERIAL
AIM:
To determine the softening point of bitumen/ tar.
THEORY:
The Softening Point of bitumen or tar is the temperature
at which the substance attains particular degree of
softening. As per IS: 334-1982, it is the temperature in
C at which a standard ball passes through a sample of
bitumen in a mould and falls through a height of 2.5 cm,
when heated under water or glycerine at specified
conditions of test. The binder should have sufficient
fluidity before its applications in road uses. The
determination of softening point helps to know the
temperature up to which a bituminous binder should be
heated for various road use applications. Softening point
is determined by ring and ball apparatus.
PROCEDURE:
(i) Preparation of test sample: Heat the material to a
temperature between 75-100 C above its softening
point; stir until, it is completely fluid and free from air
bubbles and water. If necessary, filter it through IS sieve
30. Place the rings previously heated to a temperature
approximating to that of the molten material, on a metal
plate which has been coated with a mixture of equal parts
of glycerine and dextrine.
(ii) Assemble the apparatus with the rings; thermometer
and ball guides in position
(iii) Fill the bath with distilled water to a height of 50mm
above the upper surface of the rings. The starting
temperature should be 5 C.
Note: Use glycerine in place of water if the softening
point is expected to be above 80 C; the starting
temperature may be kept 35 C.
(iv) Apply heat to the bath and stir the liquid so that the
temperature rises at a uniform rate of 5 0.5 C per

minute.

glasses

(v) As the temperature increases the bituminous material

softens and the balls sink through the rings carrying a
portion of the material with it.
(vi) Note the temperature when any of the steel balls
with bituminous coating touches the bottom plate.
(i) Record the temperature when the second ball touches
the bottom plate.
TABLE 1: PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF BITUMEN
TEST
NAME

TEST
RESULT

PERMISSIBL
E LIMIT

Specific
gravity

1.065

0.99(min)

Penetratio
n test

54mm

45(min)

Softening
point

51.15

47(min)

TEST
METHO
D
IS 12021978
IS 12031978
IS 12051978

TABLE 2: WEIGHT OF AGGREGATES USED

12.5 mm

WEIGHT OF
AGGREGATE
72g

10 mm

312g

4.7 mm

84g

2.5 mm

204g

FILLER

480g

SIZE OF AGGREGATE

3.2 PROCEDURE
1) Plastic wastes are cleaned and dried (For ex: disposed
carry bags, glasses etc) with a thickness of 60 microns
is shredded into small pieces (2.36 mm - 4.75 mm size).
2) Aggregate are weighed and are heated to 160C in a
pan.
3) Shredded plastic is added to the hot mix. The plastic
gets softened and coated over
the surface of the aggregate in 30 - 60 seconds as shown
in Figure 4.
4) Hot Bitumen (heated up to a maximum of 160C) is
added immediately and the contents are mixed
thoroughly.
5) As the plastics are heated to a maximum temperature
of 165C, there is no evolution of any gas . When heated
above 270C, the plastics get decomposed and above
750C they get burnt and
produce harmful noxious gases.
6) The moulds are preheated and then the mix is poured
in the preheated moulds.
7) The moulds are marked and kept for 24 hours in air
and weighed.
8) Then the prepared moulds are poured in water and
weight of SSD (saturated surface
dry sample) is taken.
9) Then after SSD weight, samples are kept in 60C hot
water bath and then tested for Marshall Stability and
Flow value just after taking out from water bath.
4. Data collection

TABLE 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF WASTE

PLASTIC
POLYMER
POLYETHYLENE

SOFTENING
TEMP

EXAMPLES

100-120

bags, sacks,
detergent
bottles,etc

POLYPROPYLENE

140-160

Film
wrappings of
biscuits and
chips

PLYSTYRENE

110-140

Disposable

Characteristics Curves Based on Experiments Conducted

in Lab 4.5% Net Content of Bitumen and Plastic
s

1) Figure 1 shows the plot between % plastic in bitumen

and Stability (KN).
2) Figure 2 shows the bar graph between % Air Voids
(Va) and % of plastic in bitumen.
3) Figure 3 shows the bar graph between Bulk Density
(gm/cc) and % Plastic in bitumen.
4) Figure 4 shows the plot between Flow value (mm) and
% of Bitumen Content.

5) Figure 5 shows the plot between % Voids filled with

Bitumen (VFB) and % plastic content.
5. Results and Discussion
1) Utilisation of waste plastic improves the binding
property of mix.
2) The optimum result of waste plastic came out to be
8% from the experiments conducted.
3) The properties of bitumen such as penetration,
softening point improved with the addition of the waste
fibre.
4) Plastic roads can also be constructed in the areas
having high temperatures (50C).
5) Waste plastic in roads increases the stability value and
durability to a great extent.
Acknowledgement
We express our deep sense of gratitude to our respected
and learned guides, Prof. KONGAN ARYAN for his
valuable help and guidance, we are thankful to them for
the encouragement they have given us in completing the

project.
We are also thankful to all the other faculty & staff
members of our department for their kind co-operation
and help. Lastly, we would like to express our deep
apperception towards our classmates and our indebt ness
to our parents for providing us the moral support and
encouragement.

References
Vasudevan .R, utilization of waste plastics for flexible
pavement, Indian High Ways (Indian Road Congress),
Vol.34, No.7. (July 2006).
S.S.Verma,(2008),Roads from plastic waste, The Indian
Concrete Journal ,pp.43-47
Kajal , N K S Pundhir , Sangita and A Chandra(2007),
Use of waste plastics and copper slag for low cost
bituminous roads, Journal Of Scientific and Industrial
Research,Vol.66.pp.938-994
IRC, Tentative Specifications for Bituminous Surface
dressing Using Pre-coated Aggregates, IRC: 48-1972,
Indian Roads Congress
ISI, Indian Standards Specifications for Roads Tar, IS:
215, Indian standard Institution