Utilization of Waste Polyethylene in Open Graded Friction Course

Apart from resolving the environmental issues, waste polyethylene has found its utility in the pavement construction industry, thereby achieving economy and sustainability. This paper has attempted to explore the use of waste polyethylene derived from milk packaging pouches as an additive in bituminous paving mixes applicable for the surface courses. The open graded friction course (OGFC), especially recommended for rut resistance and friction development, has been considered in this study. Unlike National Centre of Asphalt Technology (NCAT) guidelines for OGFC, IRC-37 (2018) recommends higher grade bitumen for bituminous mix used in surface course. Accordingly, this laboratory study is based on mix design as per NCAT procedure for the mix with viscosity graded VG 40 bitumen, with its concentration varying from 4 to 6% by weight of the mix. The waste polyethylene in the form of small fibers was introduced at a rate of 0, 4, 6, and 8, by total weight of bitumen and mixed with the aggregate as a dry process before the bitumen was added and all ingredients mixed almost homogeneously. The optimum bitumen content (OBC) and optimum polyethylene content (OPC) of OGFC mixes were determined based on the drain down test, Cantabro loss test, and moisture susceptibility test. Based on the above test results, the mixture prepared with 6% waste polyethylene satisfied the important criteria set for the mix design. Hence, it is concluded that waste polyethylene can be effectively utilized for improving the performance of OGFC.