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Abhishek Garg,
Sudhir Kumar,
Bajrang Lal Swami,
Shivangni Khandelwal,
Nikhil Mathur,
- Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Professor (Retired), Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
- Research Scholar, Department of Civil Engineering, Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Abstract
The growing accumulation of post-consumer polymer waste has intensified the need for sustainable recycling strategies capable of transforming them into value-added engineering products. Among various recycling approaches, the incorporation of recycled polymers into bituminous systems offers a promising pathway for enhancing pavement performance while supporting circular economy principles. This study investigates the sustainable utilisation of recycled Polymers in bituminous polymer composites and evaluates the influence of dry and wet processing techniques on their mechanical and durability characteristics.
Bituminous Concrete mixtures prepared were modified using recycled polymers at contents ranging from 4% to 12% by weight of bitumen. The composites were produced through dry and wet modification processes to examine the effects of polymer type, dosage, and incorporation methodology on composite performance. Mechanical characterisation was carried out using Stability, Marshall Flow, Tensile Strength (ITS) tests, while durability-related properties were assessed through Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR), Resilient Modulus, Dynamic Creep, and Wheel Tracking evaluations.
The results demonstrated that the incorporation of recycled polymers significantly improved the structural and durability performance of bituminous composites compared with the unmodified mixture. Among the investigated polymers, HDPE exhibited the most pronounced enhancement, achieving a maximum Stability and resilient modulus at an optimum dosage of 8% under dry processing conditions. PET-modified composites showed substantial improvements in stiffness and deformation resistance, whereas LDPE-modified composites provided enhanced flexibility and strain accommodation. In general, dry processing produced superior performance compared with wet processing owing to improved polymer–aggregate interaction and more uniform composite structure.
The findings demonstrate that recycled Polymers can serve as effective modifiers for developing high-performance bituminous polymer composites. The study provides a sustainable framework for the valorisation of polymer waste in infrastructure applications.
Keywords: Recycled polymers; Bituminous polymer composites; PET; HDPE; LDPE; Sustainable materials; Mechanical performance; Durability.
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Journal of Polymer & Composites
| Volume | 14 | |
| 05 | ||
| Received | 17/06/2026 | |
| Accepted | 22/06/2026 | |
| Published | 14/10/2026 | |
| Publication Time | 119 Days |