Evaluation for Structural Integrity of Waste Plastic Cup Modified Bituminous Mix by Microchemical Analysis

Abstract

Abstract Utilization of ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV) to determine the stiffness of waste plastic cup (PC) modified HMA is considered as the “state of art” in this investigation. Besides, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and optical microscopy has been adopted to explore the hybridization as well as dispersion of PC droplets into the pristine bitumen for getting a homogeneous modified bitumen. Significant peak of H-C branch propagation at 2,700–3,300 cm 1 with inconspicuous carboxylic acid peak form FTIR spectroscopy has clarified a significant adhesive bitumen has been achieved for incorporating 2% PC in the pristine bitumen. However, even dispersion of PC modifier in the bitumen medium has justified its homogeneity for the cited dosage in the bitumen. Further, incremental trend in M.Q along with descending E value of the PC modified HMA has signified that beyond the aforementioned dosage such modified bitumen unable to coat the flaky basalt aggregate adequately in the HMA, thus air void may be formed in the HMA.