Novel recycled polyethylene/ground tire rubber/bitumen blends for use in roofing applications: Thermo-mechanical properties

• Published in: Polymer testing Vol. 29; no. 5; pp. 588 - 595
• Main Authors: Navarro, Francisco Javier, Partal, Pedro, Martínez-Boza, Francisco J., Gallegos, Críspulo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kindlington Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2010; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bitumen. Tars. Bituminous binders and bituminous concretes; Bitumens; Blends; Buildings. Public works; Crumb tire rubber; Exact sciences and technology; Grounds; Materials; Modified bitumen; Polyethylenes; Polymer blends; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Recycled; Recycled PE; Roofing; Rubber; Technology of polymers; Waste treatment; Recycled PE; Modified bitumen; Crumb tire rubber; Viscoelasticity; Scrap rubber; Strengthening; Polyethylene; Polymer blends; Property composition relationship; Mechanical properties; Experimental study; Tyre; Thermal properties; Polymer modified asphalt; Dynamic mechanical properties; Olefin polymer; Recycled material; Elastic properties; Recycling; Rheological properties
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2010.03.010

This paper summarises the effect of recycled polymers, such as ground tire rubber (GTR) and recycled polyethylene (RPE), on the thermal and rheological properties of modified bitumen blends. From the experimental results obtained, it can be deduced that GTR or RPE may enhance bitumen thermo-rheological behaviour. However, much more enhanced mechanical properties can be obtained using a combination of both recycled polymers. In that sense, GTR would mainly improve material behaviour at low in-service temperatures, since the glassy region is significantly shifted to much lower temperatures. Complementarily, RPE would mainly improve the high in-service temperature properties by largely increasing material elastic and viscous properties in this temperature region. As a result, and from an environmental point of view, the use of both GTR and RPE may contribute to solve a waste disposal problem, and to improve the quality of the resulting blends for roofing and waterproofing applications.