The Use of Polymer for Road Surfacing as a Strategy for Waste Recycling in Maiduguri

Abstract

The road network in Maiduguri, Borno State in Nigeria has been continuously deteriorating due to the ongoing rise in traffic combined with insufficient maintenance due to a lack of funding. Various actions, such as securing finances for maintenance, improving roadway design, using better quality materials, and using more efficient construction techniques are reported to be useful in reducing this process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of polythene on the characteristics of asphalt and concrete for road surfacing as well as strategy for waste recycling. Hot bitumen and waste polymer were combined at 160°C using a strong mechanical stirrer; plastic was added to the bituminous mix using wet process techniques to create polymer-modified bitumen. Base bitumen with a penetration grade of 60/70 was used for the laboratory tests. To achieve consistency in the mixture, all the polymers were heated and chopped into pieces. 2%, 4% and 6% volume of polymer were used with a control volume of 0%. Different tests such as the Viscosity test, Flash and fire point test, Penetration test, Marshall Test, and Ductility test were all conducted using standard procedures. The test results for penetration, ductility, viscosity, flash and fire points, indicate that the material is becoming less consistent and more resistant to temperature variations. The marshal test findings showed that the modified combination had higher stability and a lower % of VMA (Voids in mineral aggregates) than the traditional plain mixtures. This would significantly increase these mixes' resistance to rutting.