Impact of Recycled Plastic on Asphalt Binder and Mixture Performance


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CAIT project no.: CAIT-UTC-REG 37

Fiscal Year: 2018/2019

Status: Final

Principal investigator(s): Thomas Bennert, Ph.D. (PI), Rutgers CAIT

Performing organization(s): Rutgers CAIT

Managing organization: Rutgers CAIT

In cooperation with: New Jersey Department of Transportation
Partner project manager: Stevenson Ganthier, Principal Engineer, Bureau of Materials

Supported by: USDOT-OST-R

UTC, grant, or agreement no.: 69A3551847102

Summary:

The primary goal of this proposal is to evaluate the compatibility of different plastics within asphalt and evaluate the resultant asphalt binder and mixture performance of the plastic-modified material.

The intended outcome of the project is to develop a new material that would provide both a structural material for long, last asphalt pavements, as well as a potential end use for recycling plastics. It is anticipated that a series of webinars would be required to take place to state and local agencies.  The webinars would provide information pertaining to the appropriate waste plastic stream products for asphalt binders and mixtures, methods and procedures on blending the recycled plastic with the asphalt materials, necessary changes and/or modifications to current mixture design procedures, and expected change to the handling and performance of plastic modified asphalt mixtures.