Proceedings of the National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering Sciences 2k11

(18)ROAD CONSTRUCTION WITH PLASTIC WASTES

S.V.SHEIKNA LEBBAI1 , S.SIVA PRAKASH2
E-MAIL:pulipoo87@gmail.com, sheik_irf@yahoo.com

Abstract: This paper conducted a study on recycling plastic waste and blending it with bitumen to lay roads
in India and compare with the environmental and economic conditions in Bangladesh. The intention is to
improve awareness and encourage change in policy and practice. The technology is simple but innovative
mixing plastic 8% with bitumen 92% for road surfaces. Shredded plastic waste acts as a strong binding
agent for tar, making the asphalt last longer by rendering it more impervious to water. The normal road
surface last 3-4 years and the road constructed with plastic waste last at least 7-8 years.

A well-constructed plastic road will result in the following:

• Strength of the road increase
• Better assistance to water and water stagnation
• No stripping and have no pot holes.
• Better soundness property
• Cost of the is less
• To control environmental pollution. Such as cost of the road are just about 4-5
percentages less than normal road.

INTRODUCTION: PROD AREA BITU PLAS BITUME COST

Waste plastic is grinded and made into UCTS MEN TICS N REDU
powder 3 to 4% plastic is mixed with the NEED NEED SAVED CED
bitumen. Plastic increases the melting ED ED
point of the bitumen and makes the road Road 1kmx3 9tonne 1tonne 1tonnes Rs.
retain its flexibility during winters .75m s s 15000
resulting in its long life. Use of shredded Block 1kmx3 Nil 40tonn Nil 20%
plastic waste acts as a strong binding .75m es
agent for tar making the asphalt last Roofin 1mx1 Nil 250gm 100% To
long. By mixing plastic with bitumen the g sheets m s evaluat
ability of the bitumen to withstand high ed
temperature increases. The plastic waste
is melted and mixed with bitumen in 39km of plastic roads in rural area the
particular ratio. Normally, blending takes chemistry involves transforming all
place when temperature reaches 45.5 polythene material in pulp and mixing it
degree Celsius but when plastic is mixed, with tar and aggregate.
it remains stable even at 55 degree ECONOMIC DETAILS:ECONOMIC
Celsius RESEARCH:
Indian road sector has found a new Economies of most Asian countries:
technique to construct more durable road • Average daily earning of poorest
plastic to be precious waste plastic. The is $2(Rs.80)
district administration of kancheepuram • Reward for daily collection of
in tamilnadu is currently laying down dirty plastic wastes
A. 20kgs Rs.200=5$

98 NCRTES 2K11
 Proceedings of the National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering Sciences 2k11
B. 30kgs Rs300=7.50$
• Using plastic waste for blending
with bitumen(due to affordable
cost of collection) attractive
economically and practical.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS:
It has been found that modification of
bitumen with shredded waste plastic
marginally increases the cost by about
Rs.2500/tone. However this marginal
increase is compensated by increase in
the volume of the total mix, there by
resulting in less overall bitumen content,
better performance and environmental
conservation with usage of waste plastics.
COST:
• Collection of littered plastics
:Rs. 0.5lakh
• Cost of shredder and other
equipment :Rs. 0.5lakh
• Laying of roads with material,
labour etc. :Rs. 4lakh
TOTAL : Rs. 5lakh
MATERIALS REQUIRED:
• Aggregate
• Bitumen
• Shredding waste plastic
• Curing materials
SPECIFICATIONS FOR WASTE
PLASTIC:
The following types of waste plastic can
be used in the construction of rural roads:
Films(carry bags, cups)thickness up to 6
micron(PE, PP and PS) Hard
foams(PS)any thickness Soft foams(PE
and PP) Laminated plastics thickness up
heated to 170 degree Celsius in the Mini
hot Mix Plant and the shredded plastic
waste is added, it gets softened and
coated over the aggregate. Immediately
the hot Bitumen (160 degree Celsius) is
99
to 60 micron (Aluminum coated also)
packing materials used for biscuits,
chocolates, etc.
METHODOLOGY:
Disposal of waste materials
including waste plastic bags is a menace
and has become a serious problem,
especially in urban areas, in terms of its
misuse, its dumping in the dustbins,
clogging of drains, reduced soil fertility
and aesthetic problem etc. waste plastics
are also burnt for apparent disposal,
causing environmental pollution. The
laboratory studies conducted by CRRI in
utilization of waste plastic bags in
bituminous concrete mixes have proved
that these enhance the properties of mix
in addition to solving disposal problems.
The results indicated that there was an
improvement in strength properties when
compared to a conventional mix.
REUSE OF PLASTICS WASTE IN
ROAD CONSTRUCTION:
Polymer blended Bitumen shows
higher softening point, lower penetration
point, and better ductility. Polymer
coated aggregate blended with bitumen
shows higher Marshall Value and better
stripping value showing that the mix is
more suited for road laying.
PROCESS OF ROAD LAYING
USING POLYMER-AGGREGATE-
BITUMEN MIX: The plastic waste
(bags, cups, thermo Cole) made out of
PE, PP, & PS are separated, cleaned if
needed and shredded to small pieces
(passing through 4.35mm sieve). The
aggregate (granite) is
added and mixed well. As the polymer
and the Bitumen are is the molten state
(liquid state) they get mixed and the
blend is formed at surface of the
aggregate. The mixture is transferred to
NCRTES 2K11
 Proceedings of the National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering Sciences 2k11
the road and the road is laid. This
technique is extended to Central Mixing
Plant too.
SPECIALITIES OF PLASTIC ROAD:
• Better Roads-longer life
• Use of waste Plastics
• Saving of Bitumen
• Costs Less Saving
• Costs Less job for Self Help
Groups
• Simple process, needs to new
Machinery
• Helps to Save Cost of Bitumen
• Improves performance of Roads
• Solves problem of Plastic Waste
Disposal
• Practical Experience of our
Industry Introducing the Change
& Resistance-Authorities,
Contractors, Politicians,
Citizens.
PROCESS CHART OF WASTE PLASTICS
COATED AGGREGATE-BITUMEN MIX:
Aggregate shot Aggregates
Waste Plastics Poly.Coated Aggregate
Hot Bitumen 160 ◦C
PolymerCoatedRoad Laying (120◦C)
AggregateBitumenMixture
METHOD I (WET PROCESS):
Blending of waste plastics by direct
mixing of shredded polymer with hot
bitumen at 160◦C.Mixing of higher
percentage of polymer difficult because
of difference in viscosities of molten
polymer and Bitumen. Powerful
mechanical stirrer required for effective
mixing. Also required addition of
stabilizers and proper cooling.
100
METHOD II (DRY PROCESS):
Waste polymer is added on the hot
aggregate(170◦C).The polymer gets
coated over the aggregate uniformly. The
bitumen is added; mixing of bitumen
with polymer takes place at the surface of
the aggregate around 155-163◦C. With
the increase in surface area of contact,
mixing of polymer with bitumen is better.
Hence, blend with better binding property
is formed.
FLOW CHART SHOWING
METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF ROAD RAW MATERIAL:
Bitumen Polymer Wastes (carry bags,
(60/70 & 80 /100) cups & thermocole)
Segregation
COMPARISION OF AGGREGATES
COATED AGGREGATE:
Mostly Coated Aggregate is used for wet
process method.
PLAIN AGGREGATE:
Mostly Plain Aggregate is used for dry
process method.
ADVANTAGES OF PLASTICS-
BITUMEN ROAD:
Better binding property. Higher softening
point; withstands high temperture. Lower
penetration value; withstands higher load.
No stripping-Resists the permeation of
water. Higher Marshal Stability –
increased strength of road. Operation
temperture range: 160-170 degree celsius.
Cost less compared to CRMB. Waste
Plastics (MSW, road side etc.). Better
disposal of waste plastics No toxic gas
evaluation – No to Dioxin. Waste plastics
NCRTES 2K11
 Proceedings of the National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering Sciences 2k11
disposal- No longer a problem. Plastics
bitumen road are cheap and good.
COMPARISION TABLE
WITH PLASTIC AND WITHOUT
PLASTIC:
The durability of the roads laid out with
shredded plastic waste is much more
compared with roads with asphalt with
the oridinary mix. Roads laid with plastic
waste mix are found to be better than the
conventional ones. The biniding property
of plastic makes the road last longer
besides giving added strength to
withstand more loads.while a normal
‘highway quality’ roads lasts four to five
years it is claimed that plastic-bitumen
roads can last upto 10years. Rainwater
will not steep through because of the
plastic in the tar. So, this technology will
result in lessser road repairs. And as each
km of road with an average width
requires over two tones of polyblend,
using plastic will help reduce non-
biodegradabl
Stone Percentage Moisture
Aggregate of plastic Absorption
Without Plastic 0 4%
Coating
With Plastic coating 1% 2%
2% 1.1%
3% Traces
BITUMEN COATING OVER PLASTIC
COATED AGGREGATE:
Plastics Road Resisting To Stripping.
Aggregate Coated with plain Bitumen
shows 5% stripping after 24 hours.
Aggregates Coated with Plastics Waste
followed by bitumen shows NIL
Stripping even after 72 hours. Aggregates
101
Coated with plastics waste provide no pot
hole formation.
DIFFERENCE OF THE PLASTIC AND
NON-PLASTIC ROAD
PENETRATION TEST:
The penetration test is used to determine
the hardness or softness of bitumen by
measuring the depth in tenths of a
millimeter to which a standard loaded
needle will penetrate vertically in five
seconds. The penetrometer consists of a
needle assembly with a total weight of
100g and device for releasing and locking
in any position. The bitumen is softened
to a pouring consistency, stirred
thoroughly and poured into containers to
a depth at least 15 mm in excess of the
expected penetration. The sample
containers are then placed in a
temperature controlled water bath at a
temperature of 250c for one hour.The
sample with container is taken out and
the needle is arranged to make contact
with the surface of the sample. The dial is
set to zero or the initial reading is taken
and the needle is released for 5 seconds.
The final reading is taken on dial gauge.
At least three penetration tests are made
on this sample by testing at distances of
at least 10mm apart. Apart each test the
needle is disengaged and wiped with
benzene and dried. The depth of
penetration is reported in one-tenth
millimeter units. The mean value of three
measurements is reported as a penetration
value. It may be noted that the
penetration value is largely influenced by
any in accuracy as regards pouring
temperature, size of needle, weight
placed on the needle and the test
temperature.
NCRTES 2K11
 Proceedings of the National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering Sciences 2k11

ORDINARY Penetration value compared with ordinary bitumen road

BITUMEN: Sample without plastic material. Although this
I 97 practice is slightly uneconomical the road
laid using plastic waste requires less
II 95
thickness and long life compared to
ordinary bitumen road.
PLASTIC MIXED BITUMEN 5 %: REFERENCE:
Dr.V.Vasudevan TEC, Madurai and
Sample Penetration value CRRI article on website.
I 87.5 Dr.Sanghitha, Scientist flexible pavement
II 89 article on web site.
Dr.S.S.Varuma department of physics
RESULT: S.L.I.E.T presentation on website.
In the case of penetration test, the U.S.D.A Technology develop the plastic
penetration value of bitumen is lower road on September 1996 by Jeffry E.
than that of ordinary bitumen. Hence moll; B.E Senior project leader.
more loads can act on it.
OTHER TESTS: U.S.D.A Technology develop the plastic
• Ductility test
road on September 1996 by Ricky
• Impact test
Kiramoto, Engineering Assistance
• Abrasion test
Recycling used agricultural plastics
• Softening point testsare done and
the results were found James W .Gareth, Pavia D. Kowal, Penn
successfully. state university, Agricultural and
CONCLUSION: biological Engineering
India’s initiative in waste utilization has
been increasing in every sector because Plastic Trial Procedure Oaktech
of unavailability and depletion of raw Environmental website Accessed 9-11-
materials. In road construction the usage 1006
of stone aggregate is more. When plastic Dr. Aslam, Professor & Head, Er.
materials is used with stone aggregate the Shahan-ur-Rahman, Lecturer,
load capacity is increased with high Department of civil Engineering, Integral
impact resistance and low abrasion, University,Lucknow

102 NCRTES 2K11