SAVING ENVIRONMENT BY USING RECYCLED PLASTIC AND CONSTRUCTING SUSTAINABLE FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT
SAVING ENVIRONMENT BY USING RECYCLED PLASTIC AND CONSTRUCTING SUSTAINABLE FLEXIBLE PAVEMENT
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Abstract :
The excessive use of plastic products has become one of the major environmental concerns of modern civilization. Plastic pollution has severely affected air, land, and water, creating long-term ecological imbalance. This study focuses on utilizing recycled plastic waste in flexible pavement construction, forming Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB) to enhance durability and sustainability. This method not only provides a solution for plastic waste management but also improves pavement strength and longevity, contributing to environmental protection and resource efficiency.
Objective:
The main objective is to reduce environmental pollution caused by civilization’s heavy dependence on plastic and plastic products. Plastic waste pollutes the environment through air, land, and water. Riverbeds, ocean floors, and topsoil are already filled with plastic debris. Wildlife, human health, and the entire ecosystem are under serious threat. Micro plastics are being consumed by fish and animals and are now entering the human food chain — even micro plastic particles have been detected in the human brain.
Purpose :
The purpose is to make flexible pavements more sustainable by using recycled plastic. When plastic is
added to bitumen, it becomes Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), producing a semi-rigid pavement.
This semi-rigid pavement effectively resists:
Rutting
Shoving
Potholes
Torsional twist
Vertical and transverse cracking
Properties of Plastic Products (in Short)
Plastic has been popular due to its property. In many cases it replaces metal even it performs better than metal.
Light weight
Easily Mouldable
Aesthetically it can be converted to a product
Highly Flexible
Low melting point
High Electrical insulation
Corrosion resistance
And many others
Environmental Hazard by Plastic:
High durability: it does not biodegrade but rather fragments in to smaller pieces like micro plastic and nano plastic which persist in environment for a long period.
From mountain tops to the deepest sea beds are affected thus wildlife is under threat and human health at risk
Land and soil degradation
Climate change and air pollution
Plastic is a Significant Contributor to Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions
How to use the Recycled Plastic in to the Bitumen for Constructing Flexible Pavement
Plastic Preparation: Waste plastic (like PE or PP) is shredded into small pieces, typically 2-4 mm in size.
Aggregate Heating: The crushed stone aggregate is heated to a high temperature, often around 160 degree
Plastic Coating: The shredded plastic is scattered over the hot aggregate in the mixing chamber. The heat causes the plastic to soften, melt slightly, and form a thin, oily coating over the aggregate particles
Bitumen Addition: The heated neat bitumen (160 degree celsius) is then added to the plastic-coated aggregate and mixed for a short duration (typically 30-60 seconds) to create the final asphalt mixture.
Flexible pavement faces Trouble after Use:
Surface cracking: Transverse and longitudinal crack
Surface deformation: Rutting, Shoving, Corrugation and depression
Surface Disintegration: Potholes, Raveling, Striping Torsional effect- Shear/twisting effect and horizontal cracks.
Environmental Benefits: It provides a productive way to reuse plastic waste that would otherwise end up in landfills or incinerators.
Reduced Bitumen Consumption: In some methods, the plastic partially replaces the bitumen, leading to cost savings and conservation of a non-renewable resource.
Character of Plastic Mixed Asphalt Flexible Pavement:
Polymer-Modified Bitumen (P-M-B) when the plastic is incorporated into the bitumen binder.
More specifically, it's often called Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) modified with recycled plastic
Increased Stability and Stiffness: Plastic modifiers often increase the mixture's stiffness and Marshall Stability (a measure of resistance to deformation), leading to a stronger pavement.
Benefits of PMB flexible Pavement
PMB converts flexible Pavement to Semi Rigid
PMB makes Flexible Pavement more durable by withstanding against ,Rutting, Cracking, Temperature susceptibility, Adhesion and moisture, safety and noise, increase load Capacity
Achievement:
Is miraculous. One hand it saves Environment from pollution by recycling plastic. Other hand now the waste plastic is the blessing for bitumen road to make it semi rigid pavement. The semi rigid pavement will make it sustainable against all kind of damages happen in flexible pavement. Eventually it will save public money and the frequent Construction hazard.
Recycling Plastic Saves Environment, Saves Money and Saves Creature.
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