Sample Preparation

There are two common methods for the sample preparation of the chosen additive: the
wet process and the dry process. For the first method, the wet process, this is done by
mixing PET into bitumen with the use of a mixer. After that, ‘plastic modified
bitumen’ is added into aggregates. This process is attainable for plastics, for example,
low density polyethylene (LDPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), and
polypropylene (PP) having melting points beneath 160°C, which is near to asphalt
mixture production temperatures. But, the wet process is not attainable for plastics
like PET because of its high melting point of about 250°C making it really hard to
accomplish a uniform mix and its tendency to isolate from bitumen.

On the other hand, the dry process consists of adding the plastic to heated aggregate
before blending it with the asphalt mixture. Thus, the use of dry process has been
reported in studies on polyethylene terephthalate modified asphalt mixes. However,
adherence among aggregates and the binder might be compromised when dry process
is used as a few parts of PET may soften or melt when it is added to the heated
aggregates and after coating it.

It is important to compare both of the results of the said processes mixed with PET
and HDPE to be able to evaluate the effectiveness of both. As the wet process and the
dry process is being conducted, the result of both processes is significantly affected by
the amount of PET used. PET can be obtained from shredded waste bottles and it can
be obtained as flaky in shape or it can be shredded into small crystal-like pieces.

Nowadays, the dry process was utilized with a novelty. The procedure for this is as
follows:

Before adding the aggregate to the mixture, it was warmed up to 200°C for 2 hours.
The heaviness of the aggregate for each sample is 1100 g. Also, the bitumen was
warmed up to 150°C for a time of 1 hour before being mixed with the aggregate. The
bitumen, filler, and aggregate were blended at 160 ± 5°C for around 5 minutes. At that
point, the additive is was brought into the mixture and blending with it for about 2
minutes. The level of of the additional PET was somewhere in the range of 0% to 10%
by the weight of the bitumen. The Marshall Compactor was then connected to
minimize the mixture with 50 blows from the upper and lower side of the mixture at
145°C. A roller compactor was utilized to make slabs for the wheel tracking test.

Marshall Compactor Roller Compactor