02-03-2013, 02:36 PM
A PRESENTATION ON Potential Re-use of Plastic Waste in Road Construction: A Review
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Abstract:
Now-a-days Plastic is everywhere in today‟s lifestyle. The disposal of plastic wastes is a great problem. These are non-biodegradable product due to which these materials pose environmental pollution and problems like breast cancer, reproductive problems in humans and animals, genital abnormalities and even a decline in human sperm count and quality. In recent years, applications of plastic wastes have been considered in road construction with great interest in many developing countries. The use of these materials in road making is based on technical, economic, and ecological criteria. Several million metric tons plastic wastes are produced in India every year. If these materials can be suitably utilized in highway road construction, the pollution and disposal problems may be partly reduced. Keeping in mind the need for bulk use of these wastes in India, it was thought expedient to test these materials and to develop specifications to enhance the use of plastic wastes in road making, in which higher economic returns may be possible. The possible use of these materials should be developed for construction of low-volume roads in different parts of our country. A review of various plastic wastes for use in the construction of roads has been discussed in this paper.
Introduction
Plastic is everywhere in today‟s lifestyle. It has become a part of human life .With the industrial revolution, mass production of goods started and plastic seemed to be a cheaper and effective raw material. Today, every vital sector of the economy starting from agriculture to packaging, automobile, building construction, communication or InfoTech has been virtually revolutionized by the applications of plastics. Use of this non-biodegradable (according to recent studies, plastics can stay unchanged for as long as 4500 years on earth) product is growing rapidly and the problem is what to do with plastic-waste. Studies have linked the improper disposal of plastic to problems as distant as breast cancer, reproductive problems in humans and animals, genital abnormalities and even a decline in human sperm count and quality. If a ban is put on the use of plastics on emotional grounds, the real cost would be much higher, the inconvenience much more, the chances of damage or contamination much greater. The risks to the family health and safety would increase and, above all the environmental burden would be manifold. Hence the question is not „plastics Vs no plastics‟ but it is more concerned with the judicious use and re-use of plastic-waste.
Plastic – the binder
Bitumen is a useful binder for road construction.
The steady increase in high traffic intensity in terms of commercial vehicles, and the significant variation in daily and seasonal temperature demand improved road characteristics.
Any improvement in the property of the binder is the needed.
Waste plastics on heating soften at around 130°C.
Thermogravimetric analysis has shown that there is no gas evolution in the temperature range of 130-180°C. Moreover the softened plastics have a binding property.
Comparison
The durability of the roads laid out with shredded plastic waste is much more compared with roads with asphalt with the ordinary mix. Roads laid with plastic waste mix are found to be better than the conventional ones. The binding property of plastic makes the road last longer besides giving added strength to withstand more loads. While a normal 'highway quality' road lasts four to five years it is claimed that plastic-bitumen roads can last up to 10 years. Rainwater will not seep through because of the plastic in the tar. So, this technology will result in lesser road repairs. And as each km of road with an average width requires over two tones of polyblend, using plastic will help reduce non-biodegradable waste. The cost of plastic road construction may be slightly higher compared to the conventional method. However, this should not deter the adoption of the technology as the benefits are much higher than the cost. Plastic roads would be a boon for India‟s hot and extremely humid climate, where temperatures frequently cross 50°C and torrential rains create havoc, leaving most of the roads with big potholes. Already, a kilometer long test-track has been tested in Karnataka using this technology. The government is keen on encouraging the setting up of small plants for mixing waste plastic and bitumen for road construction. It is hoped that in near future we will have strong, durable and eco-friendly roads which will relieve the earth from all type of plastic-waste.
Conclusion
Plastics will increase the melting point of the bitumen. The use of the innovative technology not only strengthened the road construction but also increased the road life as well as will help to improve the environment and also creating a source of income. Plastic roads would be a boon for India‟s hot and extremely humid climate, where temperatures frequently cross 50°C and torrential rains create havoc, leaving most of the roads with big potholes. It is hoped that in near future we will have strong, durable and eco-friendly roads which will relieve the earth from all type of plastic-waste.