Irradiated Recycled High Density Polyethylene Usage as a Modifier for Bitumen

AbstractThis paper studies the use of recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPER) obtained from waste bottle crates as modifier in bitumen. Post-consumer HDPE was irradiated in order to casue a chemical interaction with bitumen. Accordingly, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was employed to determine the effects of the electron beam irradiation on the chemical structure of HDPE. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and fluorescent microscopy results signified that there might be a chemical interaction between electron beam irradiated HDPE (HDPERe) and bitumen. Physical and rheological tests were applied to the binders to investigate the effects of HDPERe polymer on the performance of the bitumen. Fundamental rheological tests performed using a dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) and bending beam rheometer (BBR) indicate that the HDPERe modifier provides a clear improvement in temperature susceptibility of bitumen. Thus, the HDPERe modification produces enhanced physical properties of bitumen, allowing the HDPERe modifier to be used as a modifier in bitumen especially to prevent permanent deformation.