Use of chemical fibre manufacturing wastes for modification of petroleum paving asphalts

The effectiveness of using large-tonnage wastes from chemical fibre manufacturing plants for modifying petroleum paving asphalts is demonstrated. Addition of bottoms and acetate fibre wastes in the amount of 0.3 to 0.4 wt. % to asphalt—rubber composite reduces the ductility of the composite at 0°C by 20–70% and insignificantly affects the ductility of the composite at 25°C. Penatration of the composite is insignificantly altered. The softening point of the composite increases slightly. When the bottoms content in the composite is increased, the effect of increasing the fibre content becomes more even. This indicates the slight damping effect of the bottoms. Addition of acetate fibre to the polymer—asphalt binder in the amount of up to 0.4% increases the R & B softening point by 5–15%. IR spectroscopy showed the formation of hydrogen bonds between the polar groups in the bottoms and the oxygen- and nitrogen-containing groups in the asphalt.