Rheological properties and aging performance of sulfur extended asphalt modified with recycled polyethylene waste.

• Recycled Plastic Waste (RPW) improved virgin (VA) & sulfur extended asphalt (SEA). • RPW made VA&SEA stiffer/elastic thus better resistance to rutting/fatigue cracking. • Addition of RPW to VA&SEA slowed the oxidation reactions of the binder. • Addition of RPW to VA&SEA made binder more suitable for wider range of temperature. • The modification effect of RPW on asphalt included chemical and physical processes. This study examines the effect of two different recycled plastic waste (RPW) which are high and low-density polyethylene (RHDPE and RLDPE) on the rheological/viscoelastic characteristics and aging performance of virgin asphalt and sulfur extended asphalt (SEA). Four dosages of the RPW additives representing 2%, 4%, 6%, and 8% by weight of the asphalt binder were investigated. The rheological characteristics of the RPW modified binders (virgin and SEA) are characterized at original and short-term aging conditions through the Rotational Viscometer (RV) and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) tests. Fatigue performance is also characterized at the long-term aging condition. Also, high-temperature performance, dynamic storage stability (DSS), multiple stress creep and recovery (MSCR) are studied. Testing results show that RPWs lead to improved rutting and fatigue performance. Adding RPW to the virgin and SEA binders slows the binder oxidation reactions during the short-term aging. The Aging Index (AI) is found to be dependent on the asphalt rheological properties, amount/type of RPW, binder type, and temperature. RHDPE leads to an unstable modified virgin asphalt. Less than 4% RHDPE or 8% RLDPE with virgin asphalt show good DSS in terms of degradation and separation. The RPW with SEA meets the requirement of time degradation and separation set by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The temperature susceptibility of asphalt binder decreases dramatically with the RPW modification making the asphalt binder more suitable for use at a wider range of temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]