Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses

To assess the long-term durability of waste-modified binder and asphalt mixtures as sustainable pavement solutions, their performance against the most dominant environmentally induced distresses in the extreme weather environments is studied. This is critical for utilization of such solutions since...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Ramin Shahbazi, Ali Rajabipour, Ehsan Yaghoubi, Milad Bazli, Luis F. Herrera Diaz, Bogdan Z. Dlugogorski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd. 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online)
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756425001163
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849236245633302528
author Ramin Shahbazi
Ali Rajabipour
Ehsan Yaghoubi
Milad Bazli
Luis F. Herrera Diaz
Bogdan Z. Dlugogorski
author_facet Ramin Shahbazi
Ali Rajabipour
Ehsan Yaghoubi
Milad Bazli
Luis F. Herrera Diaz
Bogdan Z. Dlugogorski
author_sort Ramin Shahbazi
collection DOAJ
description To assess the long-term durability of waste-modified binder and asphalt mixtures as sustainable pavement solutions, their performance against the most dominant environmentally induced distresses in the extreme weather environments is studied. This is critical for utilization of such solutions since many roads can be subject to flood, high UV and extreme temperatures. This review focuses on crumb rubber modified binder (CRMB) and recycled plastic-modified binder (RPMB) to enhance their performance predictability and support their broader use in pavements. While the immediate benefits are well-documented, a focused review on the mechanisms of environmental degradation and their impact on performance is lacking. CRMB exhibits unique ageing mechanisms, displaying resistance to oxidative, thermal, and UV ageing, offering promise for enhancing asphalt durability in harsh environments. In contrast, when exposed to UV, RPMB tends to present a complex interplay of factors influenced by polymer type, dosage, and environmental conditions that variability would affect the reliability of the product and thus suggests the need for further research. Moisture-induced distress in CRMB and RPMB asphalt mixtures is also considered, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improving moisture susceptibility of these binders. In the literature, chemical interaction between crumb rubber and binder enhances aggregate adhesion, while undissolved crumb rubber particles may hinder it; however, consensus is lacking on their collective impact alongside other mixture parameters on the moisture resistance of asphalt. Asphalt mixtures with recycled plastics have shown acceptable moisture resistance; however, further research is needed to understand the interplay between recycled plastic properties (polarity, melting point, chemical structure) and mixture characteristics (plastic content, mixing method, temperature) to enhance reliability.
format Article
id doaj-art-197029a5da0b4cd0a3f4805a199a5480
institution Kabale University
issn 2095-7564
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
record_format Article
series Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online)
spelling doaj-art-197029a5da0b4cd0a3f4805a199a54802025-08-20T04:02:23ZengKeAi Communications Co., Ltd.Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online)2095-75642025-08-0112487690610.1016/j.jtte.2024.11.005Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distressesRamin Shahbazi0Ali Rajabipour1Ehsan Yaghoubi2Milad Bazli3Luis F. Herrera Diaz4Bogdan Z. Dlugogorski5Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia; Corresponding author.Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia; Energy and Resources Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia; Corresponding author. Faculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT0810, Australia.College of Sport, Health and Engineering, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, Australia; Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, Melbourne, VIC 3011, AustraliaFaculty of Science and Technology, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia; School of Mechanical and Mining Engineering, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, AustraliaEnergy and Resources Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, AustraliaEnergy and Resources Institute, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, AustraliaTo assess the long-term durability of waste-modified binder and asphalt mixtures as sustainable pavement solutions, their performance against the most dominant environmentally induced distresses in the extreme weather environments is studied. This is critical for utilization of such solutions since many roads can be subject to flood, high UV and extreme temperatures. This review focuses on crumb rubber modified binder (CRMB) and recycled plastic-modified binder (RPMB) to enhance their performance predictability and support their broader use in pavements. While the immediate benefits are well-documented, a focused review on the mechanisms of environmental degradation and their impact on performance is lacking. CRMB exhibits unique ageing mechanisms, displaying resistance to oxidative, thermal, and UV ageing, offering promise for enhancing asphalt durability in harsh environments. In contrast, when exposed to UV, RPMB tends to present a complex interplay of factors influenced by polymer type, dosage, and environmental conditions that variability would affect the reliability of the product and thus suggests the need for further research. Moisture-induced distress in CRMB and RPMB asphalt mixtures is also considered, highlighting the challenges and opportunities for improving moisture susceptibility of these binders. In the literature, chemical interaction between crumb rubber and binder enhances aggregate adhesion, while undissolved crumb rubber particles may hinder it; however, consensus is lacking on their collective impact alongside other mixture parameters on the moisture resistance of asphalt. Asphalt mixtures with recycled plastics have shown acceptable moisture resistance; however, further research is needed to understand the interplay between recycled plastic properties (polarity, melting point, chemical structure) and mixture characteristics (plastic content, mixing method, temperature) to enhance reliability.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756425001163Extreme weather conditionsRecycled plasticCrumb rubberAsphalt ageingMoisture induced damage
spellingShingle Ramin Shahbazi
Ali Rajabipour
Ehsan Yaghoubi
Milad Bazli
Luis F. Herrera Diaz
Bogdan Z. Dlugogorski
Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
Journal of Traffic and Transportation Engineering (English ed. Online)
Extreme weather conditions
Recycled plastic
Crumb rubber
Asphalt ageing
Moisture induced damage
title Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
title_full Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
title_fullStr Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
title_full_unstemmed Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
title_short Rubber and plastic waste-modified asphalt binders and mixtures: Performance against environmentally induced distresses
title_sort rubber and plastic waste modified asphalt binders and mixtures performance against environmentally induced distresses
topic Extreme weather conditions
Recycled plastic
Crumb rubber
Asphalt ageing
Moisture induced damage
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095756425001163
work_keys_str_mv AT raminshahbazi rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses
AT alirajabipour rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses
AT ehsanyaghoubi rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses
AT miladbazli rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses
AT luisfherreradiaz rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses
AT bogdanzdlugogorski rubberandplasticwastemodifiedasphaltbindersandmixturesperformanceagainstenvironmentallyinduceddistresses