BY: Sagar Pokharel

Table of Contents:

Introduction What is Plastic Road Need for the Study Problem Faced and Disposal Study and Tests Materials used and Methodology Comparison Advantages Implementation Conclusion References

Introduction:

Disposal of waste plastic is a major problem .It is non-biodegradable

Burning of these waste plastic causes pollution.

To find its utility in bituminous mixes for road construction , Laboratory performance studies were conducted on bituminous mixes .

Laboratory studies proved that waste plastic Enhances / Improves the properties of bituminous mix

It is better solution for disposal in an useful way.

What are waste plastic roads?

The roads constructed using waste plastic, are known as Plastic Roads

Are found to perform better compared to those constructed with conventional bitumen.

Plastic roads mainly use plastic carry bags, disposable cups and 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.

Waste Plastics - As Binder

The most used plastics/polymer materials are polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene

Around 130-140deg.C they get softened without releasing any gaseous products.

Various analysis has shown that there is no gas evolution in the temperature range of 130-180°C.

Need for the study:1. Disposal of waste plastic is a major problem

2. It is non-biodegradable

3. Burning of these waste plastic bags causes environmental pollution.

4. To find its utility in bituminous mixes for road construction

5. Laboratory performance studies were conducted on bituminous mixes. Laboratory studies proved that waste plastic enhances the property of the mix

6. Improvement in properties of bituminous mix provides the solution for disposal in an useful way

Problem:

Plastic waste scenario

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ,India generates 56 lakh tonnes of plastic waste annually,

The metro cities are major culprits

Delhi producing -690 tonnes per day,

Chennai -429 tonnes per day

Kolkata -426 tonnes per day

Mumbai -408 tonnes per day

Total plastic waste which is collected and recycled in the country is estimated around 9,205 tonnes per day (approximately 60% of total plastic waste) an

6,137 tonnes remain uncollected and littered

In Bangalore, every day at least 4,000 tonnes of garbage is being collected. Of which, 8 to 10 % is plastic waste which is

around 300-400 tonnes

Disposal methods under practice and its effects:

1. Land Filling

Ground water pollution

Land soil gets polluted

Health hazards

Emission of bad odour

Soil microbe activity reduced

Productivity of land decreases

2. Burning or Incineration

Air Pollution Global warming Monsoon failure Expensive Cannot be used in larger scale Dioxin production (The toxic compound, during

the heating of Polymers)

Plastic waste Toxic gases likeCO,CO2,

700-1100°C

Study On Waste Plastics For Road Construction:

1. Ductility Test:

Physically interlock the material and help to reduce cracking at the surface.

( Based on the conference paper Title:”Utilization of Waste Plastics in Construction of Flexible Pavements”) By: Dr. R.Vasudevan, S. Rajasekaran,

2. Determination of softening point:

The blends of different composition with different polymers was

prepared and their softening points were determined.

Softening point of bitumen used was 50.2

It is observed that the softening point increases by the addition of polymer to the bitumen. The influence over the softening point is depended on the chemical nature of the polymer added.

3. Penetration Test:

The increase in the percentage of polymer decreases the penetration value. This shows that the addition of polymer increases the hardness of the bitumen.

Measured in units of 0.1 mm (8mm=8o units)

4. Flash and fire point Flash Point – It is the lowest temperature at which the application of test

flame causes the vapours from the material to momentarily catch fire in the form of a flash

Fire Point – The fire point is the lowest temperature at which the application of test flame causes the material to ignite and burn at least for 5 seconds.

5. Characterization Of Waste Plastics-bitumen Aggregate Mix For Flexible Pavement:

a.) Stripping value

Waste plastics are dissolved in bitumen (2% PE) and the blend is coated over aggregate.

Immersing in water.

After 72 hrs., there is no stripping showing increased resistance to water.

This shows that the blend has better resistance towards water. This may be due to better binding property of the polymer – bitumen blend.

b.) Marshall Test:

Marshall stability is the resistance to plastic flow of cylindrical specimens of a bituminous mixture loaded on the lateral surface.

It is the load carrying capacity of the mix at 60°C and is measured in kg.

This shows that waste plastic-bitumen blend has higher strength compared to pure bitumen, whose value is approx. 1100 kg.

Note: the percentage of polymer added is always with respect to the weight of bitumen used.

It is observed that the addition of waste plastics (PE) increases the Marshall Stability value.

It is observed that the Marshall value obtained is generally much higher than for the pure bitumen mix.

It is also observed that the addition of waste plastics reduces the need of bitumen. For an effective binding 5% of bitumen is to be added.

It is also helping to reduce the quantity of bitumen to the extent of 10% to 15%.

AGGREGATE:- Aggregate of 20mm, 10 mm.

BITUMEN:- 60/70,80/100 grade bitumen.

WASTE PLASTIC:- Waste plastic in the shredded form.(PVC is not

Used)

Materials Used:-

Methodology:

Construction of plastic roads

Step 1 : Plastics waste (bags ,cups , bottles ) are cut into a size between 2.36mm and 4.75mm using shredding machine.

Step 2 : (a) The aggregate mix is heated to 165°-170°c (as per the HRS

specification) and transferred to mixing chamber.

(b) Bitumen is heated up to 160°c (HRS Specification) to have good binding and to prevent weak bonding. (Monitoring temperature is important).

Step 3: At the mixing chamber, the shredded plastics waste is added. It get coated uniformly over the aggregate within 30 to 60 seconds, giving an oily look.

Step 4: The plastics waste coated aggregate is mixed with

bitumen and the resulted mix is used for road construction. The road laying temperature is between 110°c to 120°c.

Characteristics of the process:

Easy process without any new machinery

In situ process

Use of lesser % of bitumen

Use of plastics waste for a safe and eco-friendly process

Both Mini Hot Mix Plant and Central Mixing Plant can be used

Only aggregate coated and bitumen is not modified

Use of 60/70 and 80/90 bitumen is possible

No evolution of any toxic gases

Fly ash can also be used to give a better performance

Comparison between ordinary bituminous roads and waste plastic bituminous roads:

S.No. Properties Plastic Road Ordinary Road

1. MARSHALL STABILITYVALUE

MORE LESS

2. BINDING PROPERTY BETTER GOOD

3. SOFTENING POINT LESS MORE

4. PENETRATION VALUE MORE LESS

5. TENSILE STRENGTH HIGH LESS

6. RUTTING LESS MORE

7. STRIPPING(POT HOLES) LESS MORE

8. SEEPAGE OF WATER VERY LESS PRESENT

9 DURABILITY OF THE ROADS

BETTER GOOD

10. COST OF PAVEMENT LESS NORMAL

11. MAINTENANCE COST ALMOST NIL MORE

12. ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY

YES NO

Advantage Of Waste Plastic Bituminous Mix:

1. More durability

2. Improved load bearing capacity and skid resistance

3. Plastic disposal

4. Cracks, abrasion, weathering and pot holes is reduced

5. Better resistance towards rain water and water stagnation

6. Less wear and tear of vehicles

7. Cost of the road will come down, as the road life is increased by 2 to 3 times

8. The maintenance cost of road is very less

9. Disposal of waste plastic will no longer be a problem.

Conclusion:

The waste plastic bitumen mix forms better material for pavement construction

Use of waste plastics for pavement is best methods for disposal of waste plastics

The use of the innovative technology strengthened the road construction and increases the road life as well as will help to improve the environment and also creating a source of income.

Implementation :

Managing Director of KK Plastic Waste Management Mr. Ahmed Khan discovered a solution to utilise the plastic waste for the construction of roads.

His company developed the technology

They have built more than 1,200 km of road in Bangalore city

Apart from Bangalore, the brothers have also laid roads in Delhi and in Hyderabad

This method has been used to construct road in Tamil Nadu also.

The plastic model has been successfully usedmajor roads in Bangalore:

Shankar Mutt Road

K H Road

M G Road (Towards Trinity Circle)

J C Nagar Road

Miller's Road And Cunningham Road

Inner Ring Road

Rajarajeshwari Junction

Mysore Bangalore State Highway

M G Road (towards Trinity Circle)

Banglore-mysore state Highway

References : Utilization of Waste Plastics in Construction of Flexible Pavements

(Reuse of waste plastics – a path – breaking initiative)Author(s): Dr. R.Vasudevan, S. Rajasekaran,

Plastic waste a ticking time bomb in India: Supreme Courthttp://southasia.oneworld.net/news/plastic-waste-a-ticking-time-bomb-in-india-supreme-court#.VGTiKPmUdRE

Amjad Khan, Gangadhar, Murali Mohan and Vinay Raykar, "Effective Utilisationof Waste Plastics in Asphalting of Roads". Project Report prepared under the

guidance of R. Suresh and H. Kumar, Dept. of Chemical Engg., R.V. College ofEngineering, Bangalore, 1999.

K. K. Plastic Waste Management Pvt. Ltd.(Subsidiary of KK Polyflex Pvt. Ltd.)No. 1, Chairman Compound, Y.V. Annaiah Road, Yelachenahalli,Krishnadevaraya Nagar II Stage Kanakapura Road Bangaolore - 560 078

PLASTIC ROADS – THE WAY AHEAD (A RESEARCH REPORT) -Varun Suriyanarayana(Guided by Dr. Rajappan Vetrivel)