Asphalt concrete using polymer waste from the factories of Siberia

Abstract

The article presents the results of studies of asphalt concrete with the use of polymer waste from Siberian factories. There were examined: rubber crumb on general purpose rubber obtained by shredding old automobile tires and butyl rubber crumb from a tire repair plant in Krasnoyarsk, devulcanized coagulum from Krasnoyarsk synthetic rubber plant, atactic polypropylene from chemical plant in Tomsk. Using infrared spectroscopy, the nature of the interaction of polymer waste with bitumen was studied. It is defined that only butyl rubber crumb chemically interacts with bitumen. The remaining waste with bitumen forms a heterogeneous two-phase mixture. The basic properties of polymer waste as well as mineral aggregates for asphalt concrete and bitumen are determined. Waste products from the Krasnoyarsk Chemical Metallurgical Plant was used as a mineral powder in asphalt concrete. Chemical and x-ray diffraction analyses were used to explore the composition of this powder. Polymer bitumen binders were prepared with polymeric wastes, and their main physical and mechanical parameters were determined. Based on the studies conducted, the optimal compositions of polymer-bitumen binders were selected. Using local mineral aggregates and optimal compositions of polymer-bitumen binders, asphalt-polymer concrete mixtures were calculated and prepared, which were tested for basic physical and mechanical parameters. It was determined that all polymer additives improve the characteristics of asphalt concrete, but the best performance is asphalt concrete with butyl rubber crumb. Experimental work on the developed composition of asphalt concrete was conducted. The resulting compounds are recommended for “Krasnoyarskavtodor” for production implementation on the roads of the Krasnoyarsk region.