Carbon Sequestration via Bituminous Composites Containing Recycled High-Density Polyethylene

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative bituminous composite containing recycled high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a means of carbon sequestration. To prepare the composite, rejuvenators and recycled HDPE were introduced to reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), separately and in combination. To evaluate efficacy of rejuvenators, this study used the following three rejuvenators: waste engine oil (WEO), oleic acid (OA), and vacuum bottom (VB). The performance of the bituminous composite containing HDPE and rejuvenators was evaluated using the indirect tensile fatigue test, the rutting resistance test, the resilient modulus test, and the semi-circular bending test. Results showed that applying a combination of rejuvenators and recycled HDPE improved the resistance to fatigue, rutting, and cracking. Particularly, in terms of improving resistance to cracking, OA proved to be the most effective rejuvenator, followed by WEO and VB. In all bituminous composites studied here, the hybrid application of HDPE and rejuvenator proved to be more effective than the rejuvenator or HDPE alone.