Added-value recycling of waste plastics: Operational performance and mechanism of asphalt modified with plastics in sustainable pavement systems
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-1-2026
Department
Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geospatial Engineering
Abstract
The tourism industry and the widespread use of plastic products have exacerbated plastic pollution, posing severe threats to fragile ecosystems. This study proposes a high-value recycling approach that converts waste plastics into asphalt modifiers, aiming to realize the high-value recycling of waste plastics and reduce plastic pollution, which conforms to the concept of sustainable pavement, and to protect the ecological environment in mountainous areas. A systematic investigation was performed on the applicability and road performance of waste plastic-modified asphalt (WPMA) and its mixtures. Based on the basic characteristics of different plastics, the optimal formulation was determined using response surface methodology: PET content of 4.7% by weight of asphalt mortar, Jingbo 90# base asphalt, processed at 187°C with a shearing duration of 55 min. A series of macroscopic performance tests show that the prepared WPMA and its mixtures meet relevant road engineering specifications, with excellent performance in basic properties, storage stability, and temperature adaptability. This research provides a feasible technical route for the application of waste plastics in pavement construction, which follows the mechanism of physical blending without obvious chemical interaction.
Publication Title
Process Safety and Environmental Protection
Recommended Citation
Li, H.,
Zhang, Y.,
Liu, S.,
Liu, L.,
Xu, D.,
Zhao, Y.,
Li, J.,
&
Liu, Z.
(2026).
Added-value recycling of waste plastics: Operational performance and mechanism of asphalt modified with plastics in sustainable pavement systems.
Process Safety and Environmental Protection,
214.
http://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2026.109103
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2731