Performance characterization of crumb rubber modified bitumen using pyrolyzed waste tyre treated bitumen

Abstract

Exponential deterioration in pavement caused by heavy loads, temperature variations, and heavy rainfall had led to pavement failure. To overcome those failures, bitumen properties needed to be enhanced in an economical and sustainable way. Researchers have used various modifiers to enhance the properties of virgin bitumen, but the end product still does not seem to be accepted by the asphalt industry at the required level. On the other hand, the construction cost has also increased due to the addition of modifiers, which have varying performance characteristics. To address such issues, waste materials such as crumb rubber obtained from waste tyres are used to enhance the properties of bitumen. The incorporation of crumb rubber has enhanced the properties of bitumen and has been well proven for decades. However, the product is still not widely accepted due to limitations such as consistency and uniformity during and after the production stages. In this research, crumb rubber was converted into pyrolyzed oil using a pyrolysis protocol and it was observed through the values of penetration and softening point test shows that optimum 2% pyrolyzed oil can be treated with bitumen to increase workability and flowability at low temperatures, such that additional crumb rubber in crumb form can be added homogenously. The results showed that an optimum quantity of 20% crumb rubber by mass of bitumen can be blended with pyrolyzed modified bitumen that is 5% crumb rubber more compared to untreated modified crumb rubber bitumen, which simultaneously increases the physical and mechanical properties of the mix. It enhances the softening point, viscosity, and storage stability while decreasing the penetration value.