1

Recycling Plastic Molding Compound from SBHPP in Pavement Design

Department, University

Course:

Affiliate: Dr Who

Due Date: 6/11/2021

 2

Recycling Plastic Molding Compound from SBHPP in Pavement Design

Durez Canada, Waste Recylcing and Molding Compounds

Durez Canada deals in high quality plastic products, such as resins, compounds,

composites, and laminates. These products are used in various applications such as electrical and

electronics, Aerospace and Transportation, Oil & Gas, Building and Industrial. The

Manufacturing process is usually prone to wastage of these resins, molding compounds, steel

slag, and glass fiber, therefore Durez Canada plans to recycle its waste, especially, molding

compounds into construction of pavements in Canada.

A pavement is designed to withstand stresses and impacts from vehicle tires (like trucks,

buses, construction vehicles, and aircraft), and sustain recoverable deformations When designing

pavement, it is crucial to ensure strength, durability, safety, and smoothness of the ride. These

properties can be achieved by carefully designing the different layers of pavement (Mallick,

2013, p. 1). In this account, a feasibility study will be done to evaluate if waste compounds such

as molding compounds can be used in pavements in Canada for Durez Canada.

What Is a Pavement Made Of?

There are two types of pavements: Flexible pavement and rigid pavement. Flexible asphaltic

pavement comprises of layered materials.

Types of Pavements

The layered structure of the pavement is designed to dissipate the loads on the pavement
to the soil. These layers need to bear the changing weather conditions in Canada (including ice
thawing, rainfall, etc) and the stress loads from vehicular movement. The first layer consists of
 3

the wearing course. This layer holds the material and aggregates in place (binder), and prevents
seepage of water (which can otherwise cause faults and cracks in the road). (Mallick, 2013)
This layer is the most important to design. Engineers use additives and Fiber-reinforced

plastic molding compounds (waste products)to help design bitumen with varying properties like

resistance to faults, increased strength to resist freeze thawing in temperate climates, etc.

The second layer, known as the base course, needs to be strong in shear and bearing

capacity. This layer consisting of larger aggregates, which can be coated with plastic to reduce

seepage of water and increase bondage. The last layer is the sub-grade layer. This layer is the

existing soil surface.

Plastic waste can also be used in rigid pavements by using it as an additive in concrete

mix.

Using Plastic Molding Compounds From

SHBPP In Pavement Design

Plastic is a non-biodegradable

substance. Plastic waste disposal is detrimental

to the environment and overall health.

Nowadays, these plastic wastes are either being

deposited in landfills or incineration. This can

adversely affect the environment (Rokade, 2012).

Figure-1 displays the disposal of plastic Figure 3: Plastic Waste Disposal in Canada in 2016

waste in Canada in 2016, broken down by

destination. “In that year, the total amount of discarded plastic in Canada reached an amount of

3.3 million metric tons, of which only 305,000 metric tons were recycled (Tiseo, 2019).”
 4

Therefore, a rather better way to utilize plastic waste is by using it in pavement design.

Druez is a company manufacturing resining and plastic molding compounds the plastic waste

obtained after use in molding purposes are: thermoplastic molding, thermoset molding, and long

fiber compounds. Due to several properties like fiber, fillers, and polymeric matrix, these plastics

are difficult to recycle however, recycling these compounds in pavement greatly improves the

life of the pavement. (Orgeas & Dumont, 2011)

Thermoplastic molding compounds contain polyethylene sulfide. “Polymers used for

asphalt modification can be grouped into three main categories: thermoplastic elastomers,

plastomers, and reactive polymers. Thermoplastic elastomers can confer good elastic properties

on the modified binder; while plastomers and reactive polymers are added to improve rigidity

and reduce deformations under load” (Prasad, 2012).

There are two ways that plastic waste can be used in the pavement: In hot Bitumen mix,

and by coating plastic with aggregates.

Modified Bitumin Mixture

Asphalt wearing course consists of mineral aggregates, bituminous binder, and voids.

Researchers are working to use polymers as binder modifiers. This will enhance resistance to

deformation, enhance the durability, and reduce rutting of the surface course. The following

research was conducted to determine the properties of conventional asphaltic bitumen and

modified bitumen

According to the research from Naghawi et al. (2018, pp. 567–570) Marshall Mix design

method was used to compare the properties of conventional and plastic waste modified bitumen.
 5

Firstly, for conventional bitumen mix, the optimum binder content is determined to be poured on

the aggregates. Three samples of 85/100 penetration asphalt were used

Secondly, The Modified bitumen mix is formed with waste Polyethylene plastic (present

in Thermoplastic Molding Compounds). The tests conducted are:

1. Penetration test

2. Softening point test

3. Viscosity test

4. Marshall Stability test.

The results obtained show that the Marshall stability

increases with an increase in plastic molding compounds.

“Stability value in the PWM asphalt mix is 42.56% higher than

that of the conventional asphalt mix” (Naghawi et al., 2018, p.

568).

“Marshall Stability value increases with the increase in

PWM content up to an optimum value then it decreases. In Figure 4: Penetration Test

Of bitumen

addition, it shows that the maximum stability value of almost 1250 kg

corresponds to 12.5% PWM content. This stability value in the PWM asphalt mix is 42.56%

higher than that of the conventional asphalt mix (Naghawi et al., 2018, p. 568).”
 6

Figure 5: Comparison of conventional Asphalt mix with PWM(plastic

waste) Asphalt mix

Plastic Coated Aggregates Used In

Pavement

Firstly, the selected polymer (thermoset compound, long fiber composites, or

thermoplastic compounds) is crushed and mixed with hot aggregates with uniform mixing. The

plastic and aggregates are then heated at a temperature of 150oC- 170oC. The plastic melts and

covers the aggregates, which acts as a binder (Manju & Sheema, 2017). The tests and

experiments carried out are:

1. Aggregate crushing test: The aggregate strength and hardness can be determined by the

aggregate crushing test. Slow and gradual

compressive load is applied to the aggregates.

The aggregates were obtained after being

treated with sieve analysis. The amount of

uncrushed aggregates left on the top sieve

Figure 6: results show comparison of crushing
provides information about the crushing value of normal and plastic coated aggregates

strength of aggregates. According to (Manju &

Sheema, 2017) the results of the tests are:

 7

2. Abrasion test: Determines the hardness of

aggregates. When used as a surface layer the

aggregates tend to weather due to tire friction.

Therefore, pavement needs to have hard

aggregates.  Figure 7: Abrasion test values for Normal

and Plastic Coated Aggregates

3. Impact test: The aggregates are tested to

withstand impact loading and fracture loading

Figure 8: Results show impact value of

normal and plastic coated aggregates
 8

It was seen that the plastic-coated aggregates reduced moisture content and air voids.

There was a significant reduction in rutting and pothole formation. (Manju & Sheema, 2017).

The table below shows the aggregate properties of normal and plastic coated aggregates

Figure 9: Results showing comparison between Natural and Plastic Coated Aggregates

The results show that the pavement with plastic molding compounds exhibits great increase in
strength, durability, and permeability of water. The findings show that being a waste product it reduces
cost of the pavement design and helps alleviate the environmental degradation (from plastic waste
disposal).

Using Thermoset, long fiber composite, and thermosetting compounds from Durez will surly
increase the service life of the pavement.
 9

Reference

Mallick, R. B. (2013). Pavement Engineering- Principles & Practice (09) by Mallick, Rajib B -

El-Korchi, Tahar [Hardcover (2008)] (Second Edition). C R C, Hardcover(2008).

http://ndl.ethernet.edu.et/bitstream/123456789/74665/1/7.pdf

Waste. (2014). CRC Research. https://www.crcresearch.org/solutions-agenda/waste

Prasad, K. S. B. (2012, August). Utilization of Waste Plastic as a Strength Modifier in Surface

Course of Flexible and Rigid Pavements (No. 2/4).

https://www.ijera.com/papers/Vol2_issue4/GP2411851191.pdf

Dawson, A. R. (2007, September). PAVEMENT ANALYSIS AND DESIGN (No. 130/5).

https://ascelibrary.org/doi/abs/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-947X(2004)130:5(665)

Rokade, S. (2012). Use of Plastic Waste in Bituminous Pavement (No. 28).

http://www.ipcbee.com/vol28/21-ICFEE2012-F10020.pdf

Naghawi, H., Allouzi, R., AlKlub, A., & Masarwah, K. (2018). Plastic Waste Utilization as

Asphalt Binder Modifier in Asphalt Concrete Pavement (No. 12/5).

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1317348

Tiseo, L. (2019, June 3). Disposal of plastic waste in Canada in 2016, by destination [Graph].

https://www.statista.com/statistics/1007893/disposal-plastic-waste-canada-by-destination/
 10

J. N. Jha, A. K. Choudhary, K. S. Gill & S. K. Shukla (2014) Behavior of plastic waste fiber-

reinforced industrial wastes in pavement applications, International Journal of

Geotechnical Engineering, 8:3, 277-286, DOI: 10.1179/1939787914Y.0000000044

Orgeas, L., & Dumont, P. J. J. (2011). SHEET MOLDING COMPOUNDS.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781118097298.weoc222

Zapata, C. E., Andrei, D., & Witzak, M. W. (2011). Incorporation of Environmental Effects in

Pavement Design (ISSN: 1468–0629). https://doi.org/10.1080/14680629.2007.9690094

Manju, R., & Sheema, K. (2017). Use of Plastic Waste in Bituminous Pavement (ISSN: 0974–

4290 Vol.10 No.8, pp 804–811).

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320243162_Use_of_Plastic_Waste_in_Bitumin

ous_Pavement#:~:text=The%20utilization%20of%20plastic%20waste,and%20also

%20its%20strength%201.&text=The%20waste%20plastic%20is%20shredded,and

%20also%20increases%20its%20durability.