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Enhancing the Storage Stability of SBS-Plastic Waste Modified Bitumen Using Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymer

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Abstract

Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) with a polymer content of up to 6% has a tendency of experiencing phase separation during hot temperature storage. This paper aims to minimize phase separation of a hybrid PMB that combines styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) and recycled linear low-density polyethylene (R-LLDPE). Reactive elastomeric terpolymer (RET) was used as a compatibilizer and its influence on storage stability was analysed via a series of physical, rheological and chemical tests to investigate phase separation. Softening point test shows that the optimum content of RET is 1%, with a higher content (> 1%) resulting in gel formation. RET increases polarity and reactivity, hence it has the capability of chemically cross-linking the polymers and bitumen. The addition of 0.2% polyphosphoric acid (PPA) improves the performance as it acts as a catalyst that facilitates the chemical reaction. The results from the frequency sweep test found that analysing the complex modulus, phase angle and plotting the black diagram is necessary since the phase separation index based on softening point can be a misleading indicator due to gelation. From the infrared spectroscopy analysis, a similar chemical composition between the top and bottom sections generates comparable absorption peaks and intensity. Finally, fluorescence microscopy indicates a continuous phase, hence displaying a homogeneous dispersion of polymers within the bitumen.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Skim Latihan Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB); Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP); and the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.

Funding

This work was supported by Skim Latihan Akademik Bumiputera (SLAB); Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP); and the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Civil and Infrastructure Engineering, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, 376-392 Swanston St, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Ilya Binti Joohari & Filippo Giustozzi

  2. Faculty of Civil Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP), 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

    Ilya Binti Joohari

  3. School of Science, STEM College, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT) University, 124 La Trobe Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia

    Subashani Maniam

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  1. Ilya Binti Joohari
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  2. Subashani Maniam
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Correspondence to Ilya Binti Joohari or Filippo Giustozzi.

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Joohari, I.B., Maniam, S. & Giustozzi, F. Enhancing the Storage Stability of SBS-Plastic Waste Modified Bitumen Using Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymer. Int. J. Pavement Res. Technol. 16, 304–318 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-021-00132-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42947-021-00132-z

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