Optimizing the use of recycled industrial waste plastic materials in asphalt binder and mixes

极端气候，特别是在夏热冬冷的地区（如加拿大），是导致路面结构过早破坏的主要原因。正如最近经济好转所发生的那样，国家高速公路系统上卡车交通的数量和重量的增加加剧了这个问题。这两个因素的共同作用加速了路面劣化，最终缩短了加拿大柔性路面的使用寿命。此外，在过去的二十年中，塑料垃圾的普遍产生已成为全球关注的问题，加拿大每年也在垃圾填埋场处理约400万吨塑料。因此，需要创新的解决方案来减少用于路面维护和修复的数百万美元支出，防止道路工作过度延误，并最大限度地减少矿物集料和石油产品等自然资源的使用（从而最大限度地减少道路系统对环境的影响）。滑铁卢大学路面与交通技术中心（CPATT）处于这些领域创新的前沿，旨在实现针对加拿大气候设计的更耐用的路面。我们的研究重点是回收一部分塑料废物流生产聚合物改性沥青混凝土，延长路面的使用寿命，减轻废塑料产生对环境造成的负担。

Extreme climates, particularly in regions with both hot summers and cold winters (as in Canada), contribute substantially to premature failure of pavement structures. This problem is exacerbated by increases in the number and weight of truck traffic on the national highway system, as happened in the recent economic upturn. The combination of these two factors accelerates pavement deterioration and ultimately shortens the service life of flexible pavements in Canada. Furthermore, the pervasive generation of plastic waste has become a global concern during the past two decades, where Canada is also suffering from disposing of about 4 million tonnes of plastics in landfills annually. Therefore, innovative solutions are needed to reduce millions spent on pavement maintenance and rehabilitation, prevent excessive road work delays, and minimize the use of natural resources such as mineral aggregates and petroleum products (in turn minimizing environmental impacts of our road systems). The University of Waterloo's Centre for Pavement and Transportation Technology (CPATT) is at the forefront of innovation in these areas and aims to achieve more durable pavements designed for the Canadian climate. Our research focuses on recycling a portion of the plastics waste stream to produce polymer modified asphalt concrete, and prolong the service life of pavements and alleviate the environmental burden imposed by the waste plastics generation. In this study, researchers from CPATT will work with the experts from Peel Plastic Products Ltd., Steed and Evans Ltd., and Yellowline Asphalt Products to advance the reuse of waste plastic materials in asphalt modification. The main objective is to find the best way to incorporate waste plastics (polymers) into the asphalt mix. In addition, the optimum quantities of plastic materials will be determined from laboratory tests to achieve the best performance. Reusing waste plastics as an innovative construction material is a sustainable solution that can greatly benefit Canadians as it will not only help increase the roads service life, but also preserve the environment.