Contribution to incorporation of non-recyclable plastics in bituminous mixtures
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2025
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Nos últimos 50 anos, a produção mundial de plástico registou um aumento exponencial, levando à procura de novas soluções que reutilizem estes resíduos. Este estudo explora a incorporação de resíduos plásticos não recicláveis em misturas betuminosas, pretendendo desenvolver uma solução sustentável com desempenho igual ou superior ao das misturas tradicionais para camadas de desgaste em pavimentos rodoviários. Selecionaram-se dez amostras de resíduos plásticos colhidos num centro de resíduos, onde apenas uma tinha valor comercial. Obtiveram-se 75 amostras após separação visual e ensaios de densidade. Avaliou-se o ponto de fusão dos plásticos, identificando os mais adequados para incorporar por via húmida. A via húmida revelou se ineficaz devido à fusão parcial do plástico no betume. O estudo prosseguiu pela via seca, formulando-se uma mistura com 10% de plástico, validada através de ensaios Marshall. Posteriormente efetuou-se ensaios de sensibilidade à água, deformação permanente, fadiga, módulo de rigidez, macro e microtextura, recuperação de betume e uma avaliação ambiental e económica. Os resultados obtidos mostraram maior flexibilidade e resistência à água, elevada resistência à deformação permanente, menor rigidez e suscetibilidade a variações de frequência e temperatura. Estes resultados indicam que a adição de plástico melhora as propriedades das misturas betuminosas e reduz custos, oferecendo uma alternativa sustentável para os resíduos plásticos na construção de estradas.
Over the last 50 years, global plastic production has increased exponentially, leading to new solutions that reuse this waste. This study explores the incorporation of non-recyclable plastic waste into bituminous mixtures, with the aim of developing a sustainable solution with equal or better performance than traditional mixtures for road pavement surface courses. Ten samples of plastic waste were chosen in a waste centre, with only one having commercial value. Through visual sorting and density tests, 75 samples were derived. An initial evaluation of the plastics melting point was performed to assess their suitability for incorporation using the wet method. The wet method proved ineffective due to the partial melting of the plastic in bitumen. The study continued with the dry method, formulating a mixture with 10% plastic, validated through Marshall tests. Water sensitivity, permanent deformation, fatigue, stiffness, macro and microtexture tests were carried out, closing with bitumen recovery and an environmental and economic analysis. Results showed increased water resistance, high resistance to permanent deformation, reduced stiffness, lower susceptibility to frequency and temperature variations, and greater flexibility. These results indicate that the addition of plastic not only improves the properties of bituminous mixtures but also reduces costs, offering a sustainable alternative for non-recyclable plastics in road construction.
Over the last 50 years, global plastic production has increased exponentially, leading to new solutions that reuse this waste. This study explores the incorporation of non-recyclable plastic waste into bituminous mixtures, with the aim of developing a sustainable solution with equal or better performance than traditional mixtures for road pavement surface courses. Ten samples of plastic waste were chosen in a waste centre, with only one having commercial value. Through visual sorting and density tests, 75 samples were derived. An initial evaluation of the plastics melting point was performed to assess their suitability for incorporation using the wet method. The wet method proved ineffective due to the partial melting of the plastic in bitumen. The study continued with the dry method, formulating a mixture with 10% plastic, validated through Marshall tests. Water sensitivity, permanent deformation, fatigue, stiffness, macro and microtexture tests were carried out, closing with bitumen recovery and an environmental and economic analysis. Results showed increased water resistance, high resistance to permanent deformation, reduced stiffness, lower susceptibility to frequency and temperature variations, and greater flexibility. These results indicate that the addition of plastic not only improves the properties of bituminous mixtures but also reduces costs, offering a sustainable alternative for non-recyclable plastics in road construction.
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CIVIL ENGINEERING, ASPHALT MIX, PLASTIC, RECYCLING, STRENGTH OF MATERIALS, BUILDING MATERIALS, MESTRADO EM ENGENHARIA CIVIL, ENGENHARIA CIVIL, MISTURAS BETUMINOSAS, PLÁSTICO, RECICLAGEM, RESISTÊNCIA DOS MATERIAIS, MATERIAIS DE CONSTRUÇÃO, Mestrado em Engenharia Civil