Laboratory evaluation of flexible pavement materials containing waste polyethylene (WPE) film

This paper presents a research to recycle the waste vinyl (waste polyethylene film: WPE film) in asphalt mixtures for improving the performance properties of the mixtures. Conventional Marshall mix designs were carried out with varying WPE contents, and the best performing content of WPE film was determined from the previous study. Also, asphalt mixtures with two commercial polymer modifiers, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and a styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), were used to compare the effectiveness of WPE-modified mixture. The strength characteristics such as Marshall stability and indirect tensile strength (ITS) were evaluated, and the wheel tracking test, result of which is generally considered to reflect the field performance, was conducted to measure the rutting resistance of the asphalt mixtures. From the results of this study, asphalt mixture with waste vinyl showed much better rutting resistance than normal asphalt mixture without WPE. It is hypothesized if an optimum content of waste vinyl is used, it is expected that the waste vinyl will be effective as much as commercial modifier in improving the performance of asphalt pavements.

Research highlights
► The WPE was found to improve asphalt mixture tensile strength.
► Asphalt mixture with WPE showed much better rutting resistance than normal asphalt mixture.
► The WPE was effective as much as commercial modifier in improving the performance of asphalt pavements.