The widespread production and consumption of plastics is a pressing global issue that requires multifaceted approaches and solutions. In terms of recycling, one of the ways to repurpose waste plastics in the construction industry would be to utilize them for asphalt pavement-related applications. Although this approach can potentially provide a value-added recycling outlet for plastics, several challenges need to be resolved to maximize its usage to the highest possible extent. Based on this, the present review article provides a comprehensive background on the different pertinent aspects associated with the use of waste plastics in asphalt mixtures. Besides examining the mechanical performance of asphalt mixtures containing waste plastic, the associated environmental concerns and life cycle assessment related attributes are also thoroughly deliberated. In addition, the successful demonstration of this technology through field trials in several countries is also discussed. Some of the main challenges related to the use of plastics in asphalt mixtures include the variability of plastic properties and composition, which can influence its mechanical performance and associated environmental impact. In general, the incorporation of waste plastics using certain tailored approaches can adequately meet and even enhance the typical performance parameters of asphalt mixtures. However, the effect of plastics modified asphalt mixtures on fuming and microplastics release remains unclear and needs further research. Nevertheless, the increasing number of field trials and widespread interest from transportation agencies around the world indicate the likelihood for the adoption of this technique as a sustainable practice in the pavement industry. ... Read more

The design and use of antioxidant additives to reduce or slow down the aging of asphalt binders can bring about tremendous benefits to the asphalt industry. Despite many isolated and scattered research efforts showing mixed results, the application of this science to engineering-based solutions has been limited due to variability in results and conflicting data available. This work presents the results from a global interlaboratory study to test the effectiveness of promising antioxidant additives, namely kraft lignin, calcium hydroxide, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate and phenothiazine to increase the resilience of asphalt binders and provide insights towards understanding the complex intricacies between chemistry and rheology. Specifically, seven different binders from various geographical regions in the world i.e., Texas (USA), Vienna (Austria), Illinois (USA), Antwerp (Belgium), and Delft (Netherlands) were blended with the antioxidants at two proportions. Subsequently, the chemical and rheological properties of the blends were evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The results indicate that although some antioxidants may reduce oxidation based chemical indices, their effect on rheology is more complicated and possibly related to unique physicochemical interactions in each binder. From a macro-perspective, zinc diethyldithiocarbamate showed promising results with a good correlation between rheology and chemistry for the majority of the binders. These additives or other additives with the same working principles should be investigated further. Additionally, significant research efforts must also be directed towards approaches aimed at understanding mechanisms of interaction and relating results with specific binder compositions. ... Read more