Recycled Plastic–Polymer Synergies in Asphalt Mixtures: Rheological Performance, Sustainability Implications, and Long-Term Road Engineering Perspectives
Keywords:
Recycled plastic asphalt, polymer-mopolymer-modified bitumen, pavement sustainability, rheological performanceAbstract
The escalating accumulation of plastic waste and the simultaneous demand for durable, climate-resilient road infrastructure have converged to position recycled plastic–modified asphalt as a strategically significant domain within contemporary pavement engineering. Over recent decades, polymer-modified asphalt technologies have evolved from niche experimental approaches into increasingly mainstream solutions aimed at enhancing mechanical performance while addressing sustainability imperatives. This research article develops a comprehensive, theory-driven, and critically interpretive examination of asphalt mixtures incorporating recycled plastics, situating the discussion within the broader historical trajectory of polymer-modified bitumen and contemporary environmental policy pressures. Drawing strictly and exclusively on the provided scholarly references, the study synthesizes advances in rheological behavior, microstructural evolution, thermal resistance, durability under high traffic loads, and life-cycle environmental performance associated with recycled plastic integration into asphalt systems.
The article extends beyond descriptive synthesis by interrogating underlying mechanisms governing polymer–bitumen compatibility, phase morphology, and viscoelastic transformations under thermal and mechanical stress. Particular emphasis is placed on recycled polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, rubber–plastic hybrids, and composite polymer systems, analyzed through the lens of rheological testing paradigms, field performance evaluations, and sustainability metrics. The pivotal role of recycled plastics in mitigating permanent deformation, enhancing high-temperature stiffness, and extending service life is examined in relation to both wet and dry modification processes, while acknowledging variability introduced by polymer source heterogeneity and blending protocols.
A critical dimension of this work lies in its sustained engagement with environmental trade-offs and circular economy frameworks. Life-cycle assessment findings, emissions considerations, and waste diversion benefits are integrated into the performance discourse to highlight tensions between engineering optimization and environmental responsibility. The study also explores scholarly debates concerning standardization challenges, long-term aging behavior, recyclability of modified pavements, and policy-driven adoption barriers.
By articulating a nuanced research agenda that bridges materials science, pavement engineering, and sustainability science, this article contributes a publication-ready, theoretically expansive, and analytically rigorous perspective on recycled plastic asphalt mixtures. The findings underscore the transformative potential of recycled plastics in road construction while delineating the technical, methodological, and regulatory challenges that must be addressed to ensure reliable, scalable, and environmentally credible implementation across diverse climatic and traffic contexts (Use Of Recycled Plastic In Asphalt Mixtures For Road Construction, 2025).
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Lucas Hernández
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