Experimental Investigation on Performance of Asphalt Mixtures with Waste Materials

The sulfur and petrochemical industries, in Iraq country, generate millions of tons of sulfur waste (SW) and waste polymers especially waste polyethylene (WPE) and waste polypropylene (WPP) which goes into landfills every year. To prevent solid waste pollution and preserve land resources, SW, WPE, and WPP will be recycled and used effectively when combined with aggregate. The study involved the construction of sulfur waste asphalt concrete (SWAC) combinations using virgin, WPE, and WPP-asphalt binders. The weight of WPE and WPP polymers was fixed at 5%, whereas the SW concentration in the asphalt concrete (AC) mixture was set at 5% (by weight of aggregate) (by weight of asphalt). The Marshall Stability, Marshall Quotient, indirect tension, tensile strength ratio, semi-circular bend, and Kim tests for deformation strength were carried out to assess the performance and durability. According to the findings of these tests, WPE and WPP-SWAC combinations at the recommended binder content exceed the minimum ASTM criteria of 8kN stability, 2-4 mm flow, 3-5% air voids, and 14% VMA. Performance and durability of SWAC mixtures are improved by WPE and WPP. Compared to the WPP-SWAC mix, the WPE-SWAC mixture demonstrated superior functionality and endurance (i.e., lower deformation phenomenon, crack propagation, and moisture damage). This study found that where they are available and transportation costs are less than for virgin materials, SW, WPE, and WPP can be recovered and used as sustainable materials for paving applications.