UTILIZATION OF WASTE PLASTIC IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION

ANNAMACHARYA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCES

INTRODUCTIONRecent studies in this direction have shown some hope in terms of using plastic-waste in road construction i.e., Plastic roads. Plastic roads mainly use plastic carry-bags, disposable cups and PET bottles that are collected from garbage dumps as an important ingredient of the construction material. When mixed with hot bitumen, plastics melt to form an oily coat over the aggregate and the mixture is laid on the road surface like a normal tar road.

PLASTIC ROADS (BANGALORE)

WHAT IS PLASTIC? A plastic material is any of a wide range of synthetic or semi-synthetic organic amorphous solids used in the manufacturing of industrial products.Plastics are typically polymers of high molecular mass and may contain other substances to improve perfo--rmance and/or reduce costs. Monomers of plastic are either natural or synthetic organic compoundsDiscarded thin-plastic carry-bags are a menace. In town they clog drains, cause flooding, choke animals that eat them and are unsightly.

PLASTIC WASTE, HARMFULL TO EARTH

STEPS FOR USING PLASTICS IN ROADS:-

1. Segregation.

2. Cleaning process.

3. Shredding process.

4. Collection process.

1) SEGREGATION-Plastic waste collected from various sources must be separated from other waste.Maximum thickness of 60 microns.

2) CLEANING PROCESS-Plastic waste get cleaned and dried.

SEGREGATION PROCESS CLEANING PROCESS

3) SHREDDING PROCESS- Different types of plastic wastes are mixed

together and Plastics gets shredded or cut into small piece.

4) COLLECTION PROCESS -

Then plastic waste retaining in 2.36 mm is collected.

COLLECTED PLASTICSHREDDING PROCESS

ON SITE EXECUTION

There are two type of execution

1. WET PROCESS

2. DRY PROCESS

WET PROCESS Blending of waste plastics by direct

mixing of shredded plastics with hot bitumen

at 160°C Mechanical stirrer is needed as the

mixing is difficult because of difference in viscosities of molten polymer and bitumen.

Addition of stabilizers and proper cooling are required.

Since the wet process require a lot of investment and bigger plants

Not commonly used..

DRY PROCESS This process is developed by Dr. Vasudevan. The aggregate is heated to 170°C in the Mini hot Mix

Plant .

AGGREGATE TRANSFERRED TO PUDDLING CHAMBER

MINI HOT MIX PLANT

The shredded plastic waste is added in equal proportion.

WASTE PLASTICS MIXED WITH THE HOT AGGREGATES

COATED AGGREGATE PLAIN AGGREGATE

This plastics gets coated over the aggregate uniformly.

BITUMEN IS ADDED WITHCOATED AGGREGATE

AGGREAGTE PALSTIC BITUMENMIX

• Immediately the hot Bitumen at 160°C is added with the mixture.

The mixture is transferred to the road and the road is laid.

Road is being laid

CHARACTERISTIC OF POLYMER MODIFIED

BITUMEN

% of Plastics

Ductility(cm) Penetration(mm)

Softening Point(oC)

1% 64 95 542% 55 90 503% 20 80 505% 11 55 7210% 7 NIL 75

Use of higher percentage of plastics in polymer modified bitumen is not favorable.

CHARACTERISTIC OF PLASTICS COATED

AGGREGATE Los Angel’s Abrasion Test –

Wear and tear values of plastic coated aggregate if found to be decreasing while using plastics.

Eg. 37% without plastic, 32% with 1% plastic, 29% with 2% plastic.

Soundness Test-The plastic coated aggregate, did not show

any weight loss, hence improve the quality of the aggregate.

ADVANTAGES

Simple process, no new machinery is required

Use higher percentage of plastic waste. Reduce the need of bitumen by around 10%. Increase the strength and performance of

the road. Reduce the cost to around Rs. 5000/Km. of

single lane road. Generate jobs for rag pickers. Develop a technology, which is eco-friendly,

no toxic gas evaluation. Reduced penetration and ductility, a higher

softening point, resist the permeation of water and cold cracking.

DISADVANTAGAES OF PLASTIC ROADS

1. Cleaning processToxics present in the co-mingled plastic waste would start leaching.

2. During the road laying processIn the presence of chlorine will definitely release noxious HCL gas.

3.After the road layingThe components of the road, once it has been laid, are not inert.

CONCLUSION

Plastic will increase the melting point of the bitumen.

Use of the innovative technology not only strengthened the road construction but also increased the road life.

Help to improve the environment (eco- friendly).

Plastic road would be a boon for India’s hot and extremely humid climate where durable and eco-friendly roads which will relive the earth from all type of plastic waste.

a simple way to make echo friendly constructions.

THANK YOU