Caracterização reológica de ligante asfáltico modificado com polietileno tereftalato (PET) pós-consumo despolimerizado

Abstract

The use of alternative materials in asphalt paving has been the subject of several studies in recent years, with emphasis on the incorporation of polymer waste with asphalt binders. In this scenario, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic is included, used mainly in the manufacture of packaging, and has become a major environmental problem due to its irregular disposal in the environment. Using PET particles in asphalt can provide an environmentally friendly solution to solve this problem and contribute to the advancement of sustainable studies in the paving industry. Thus, this work evaluated the performance of PET oligomers from the chemical recycling process as an asphalt binder modifier. The mixtures of PET with asphalt binder were produced by a wet incorporation process using a high shear mixer. In the study, the PET content was varied by conditioning the mixture to a predefined agitation time, speed, and temperature. The produced samples were submitted to laboratory tests for rheological and physical properties characterization at different temperatures and aging conditions, following the standards indicated by the Superpave specification and rheological behavior evaluation parameters. The results obtained indicate that the use of the material incorporated into the asphalt binder provides improved performance and is an interesting strategy to increase sustainability in the asphalt paving industry and contribute to minimizing impacts on the environment.