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

极端气候，特别是在夏季炎热和冬季寒冷的地区(如加拿大)，极大地导致了路面结构的过早损坏。国家公路系统上卡车交通的数量和重量的增加加剧了这一问题，就像最近的经济复苏所发生的那样。这两个因素的结合加速了路面的退化，最终缩短了加拿大柔性路面的使用寿命。此外，在过去20年里，无处不在的塑料垃圾的产生已经成为一个全球关注的问题，加拿大每年也面临着大约400万吨塑料被丢弃在垃圾填埋场的问题。因此，需要创新的解决方案，以减少花费在路面维护和修复上的数百万美元，防止过度的道路工程延误，并最大限度地减少对矿物集料和石油产品等自然资源的使用(反过来，将我们的道路系统的环境影响降至最低)。滑铁卢大学的路面和运输技术中心(CPATT)在这些领域处于创新的前沿，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部分废塑料生产聚合物改性沥青混凝土，延长路面的使用寿命，减轻废塑料产生的环境负担。在这项研究中，CPATT的研究人员将与皮尔塑料制品有限公司、Steed and Evans有限公司和黄线沥青制品公司的专家合作，推进废塑料材料在沥青改性中的再利用。主要目标是找到将废塑料(聚合物)掺入沥青混合料的最佳方法。此外，塑料材料的最佳用量将从实验室测试中确定，以实现最佳性能。回收废塑料作为一种创新的建筑材料是一种可持续的解决方案，可以极大地造福加拿大人，因为这不仅有助于延长道路的使用寿命，还可以保护环境。

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.