Perm Polytechnic scientists have developed a new method of adding recycled plastic to asphalt, which makes the road surface stronger and more durable. This will not only improve the quality of roads, but will also help in recycling plastic waste.
In 2024, about 116 thousand road accidents occurred in Russia, in which 12.7 thousand people died and more than 144 thousand were injured. One of the key reasons for accidents remains the poor condition of roads, especially on regional routes. Recycled plastic is often used to strengthen the pavement, but traditional mixing methods create clumps, causing the asphalt to break down faster.
Experts from Perm Polytechnic University proposed a solution: before adding it to bitumen, plastic is first mixed with stone materials – crushed stone and sand. This ensures even distribution of particles without clumping.
“With our method, the plastic is distributed in 1–1.5 minutes, whereas the standard method requires more than 10 minutes,” explains Konstantin Pugin, professor at PNIPU. — The coefficient of variation in strength has decreased from 15% to 2–3%, which significantly improves the quality of the coating.
The new approach not only improves the properties of asphalt, but also reduces energy costs for production. The technology is already ready for implementation at asphalt concrete plants without major equipment upgrades.
The research of Perm scientists opens up prospects for environmentally friendly road construction, combining plastic recycling with increasing the strength of roads. This is an important step in the fight for highway safety and waste reduction.
Source: naked-science.ru
