Climate change mitigation investigating asphalt pavement solutions made up of plastomeric compounds.

• New recycled polymer pellets additioned with graphene nanoplatelets are proposed. • Dynamic tests, such as indirect tensile stiffness modulus, fatigue cracking and rutting tests, were performed. • 12 years-higher service life of the asphalt mixture with recycled polymers and graphene than traditional one LCA of graphene-enhanced asphalt mixture resulted in significantly reduced environmental impacts. Aiming to mitigate climate change effects associated with the construction of asphalt pavements, two different polymers, namely a plastomeric compound (PC) and a graphene-enhanced recycled (hard) plastic compound (GRPC), were introduced into hot mix asphalt (HMA) for binder layers of road pavements. The study revolved around the investigation of the mechanical performance and life cycle environmental impacts of four HMAs: a) HMA with neat bitumen and cold-added PC (HMA PC), b) HMA with neat bitumen and cold-added GRPC (HMA GRPC), c) HMA containing neat bitumen (HMA NB) and d) HMA made up of modified bitumen with 5% Styrene Butadiene Styrene (HMA PMB). The mechanical characterization results showed that HMA PC and HMA GRPC increased their crack propagation resistance compared to HMA NB , respectively by 35 and 39%, while HMA PMB exhibited the lowest rut depth since it is specifically designed to keep the deformation low at high temperature. The rational design of pavement superstructures was carried out by using in turn each designed asphalt mixture for the binder layer; the HMA GRPC resulted in 12 years-longer service life compared to that of a traditional HMA. The application of life cycle assessment methodology highlighted that the solution made up of GRPC resulted in significantly reduced environmental impact indicators; in detail, the greatest reduction was achieved for the marine ecotoxicity (−58% and −22% compared to those with HMA NB and HMA PMB in the binder layer, respectively) for the overall lower amount of fuels used and lower NO x emissions (−3 kg) during transportation phases and supply of raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]