Moscow, Russia, January 20 (ANI): Researchers at Russia’s North Caucasus Federal University (NCFU) have developed a new asphalt mixture that incorporates plastic waste, aiming to enhance road durability while addressing the growing problem of plastic disposal, the university said.
According to NCFU, the innovation focuses on integrating modified plastic waste into asphalt concrete to improve performance and reduce the amount of plastic ending up in landfills or incinerators. Russia consumes more than 600,000 tonnes of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) annually, a material commonly used in beverage bottles, food packaging, cosmetics containers, and household chemical products. Only about 30 percent of PET is recycled, with the remaining 70 percent either landfilled or incinerated, as its reuse in food-related applications is restricted, TV BRICS reported.
NCFU scientists studied the binding properties of modified PET and proposed its use as an additive in asphalt mixtures. They developed optimized formulations and an efficient method to introduce PET into bitumen, which significantly improves the physical, mechanical, and operational properties of road surfaces. According to TV BRICS, PET-modified asphalt maintains higher plasticity and resistance to deformation across a wide range of temperatures.
The researchers emphasized that the material remains environmentally safe, as the plastic is firmly bound within the bitumen and does not leach into the environment. Laboratory tests showed that asphalt with PET retains its shape more effectively at high temperatures, is less prone to cracking, and performs better under sharp temperature fluctuations. Under extreme heat, the asphalt’s strength increased by 11–23 percent, while adhesion improved by 7–20 percent.
The team noted that the production process does not require major changes to existing asphalt manufacturing technologies. Additionally, replacing conventional polymer modifiers with recycled PET could help reduce production costs.
NCFU plans to conduct pilot industrial trials to evaluate the material under real traffic and climatic conditions. Following these trials, technical recommendations are expected to support wider adoption of the technology across Russia’s road construction sector.
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