Marshall properties evaluation of hot and warm asphalt mixes incorporating dissolved plastic bottle modified bitumen

This study was carried out to investigate the performance of Hot and Warm mix asphalt (HMA and WMA) with dissolved plastic bottle (DPB) modified bitumen. In this study, 1 - 17% @ 2% DPB by weight of bitumen was blended with 60/70 straight-run bitumen to produce hot and warm (+3% Sasobit) DPB modified bitumen blends. The produced binders were subjected to ductility, penetration, softening point, viscosity, flash and fire point and specific gravity tests to understand the effect of this modification. Also the binders were used in preparing HMA and WMA concrete respectively. Marshall Properties (stability, flow, stiffness, volume of void, void filled with bitumen and bulk specific gravity) were evaluated on HMA and WMA concrete produced. Results revealed that addition of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), in dissolved form (0 – 17%), increased the softening, viscosity, specific gravity, flash and fire points of both hot and warm modified bitumen blends but decreased their penetration and ductility. Addition of DPB improve the stability, flow and stiffness up to 13% for both HMA and WMA concrete. However, the Marshall Stability and flow of all asphalt concrete mixtures satisfied the requirements of both Federal Ministry and Asphalt Institute. Meanwhile, DPB modifier performed better in WMA than HMA concrete.