Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-2025
Department
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Abstract
This paper presents a comprehensive review of the environmentally friendly management and reutilization of electronic waste (e-waste) plastics in flexible pavement construction. The discussion begins with an overview of e-waste management challenges and outlines key recycling approaches for converting plastic waste into asphalt-compatible materials. This review then discusses the types of e-waste plastics used for asphalt modification, their incorporation methods, and compatibility challenges. Physical and chemical treatment techniques, including the use of free radical initiators, are then explored for improving dispersion and performance. Additionally, in situations where advanced pretreatment methods are not applicable due to cost, safety, or technical constraints, the application of alternative approaches, such as the use of low-cost complementary additives, is discussed as a practical solution to enhance compatibility and performance. Finally, the influence of e-waste plastics on the conventional and rheological properties of asphalt binders, as well as the performance of asphalt mixtures, is also evaluated. Findings indicate that e-waste plastics, when combined with appropriate pretreatment methods and complementary additives, can enhance workability, cold-weather cracking resistance, high-temperature anti-rutting performance, and resistance against moisture-induced damage while also offering environmental and economic benefits. This review highlights the potential of e-waste plastics as sustainable asphalt modifiers and provides insights across the full utilization pathway, from recovery to in-field performance.
Publication Title
Encyclopedia
Recommended Citation
Mohammadi, S.,
Jin, D.,
Liu, Z.,
&
You, Z.
(2025).
Incorporation of E-Waste Plastics into Asphalt: A Review of the Materials, Methods, and Impacts.
Encyclopedia,
5(3).
http://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5030112
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2006
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Version
Publisher's PDF
Publisher's Statement
Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.3390/encyclopedia5030112