17-08-2016, 09:13 AM
EFFECT OF NATURAL RUBBER ON THE PROPERTIES OF BITUMEN AND BITUMINIOUS MIXES.pdf (Size: 207.42 KB / Downloads: 50)
Natural rubber modified bitumen is used for the prolongation of life of state roads. The need
to adopt rubber for the use of construction of the roads is mainly that it reduces the cost of
construction and also recycled rubber is used as it minimizes the environment pollution. The
utilization of recycled rubber in pavement construction sector can be a very promising and
environmentally friendly what to eliminate the nations stock of scrap. A steady stream of huge
volume of waste remnant or natural rubber is generated due to the continual increase in the
production of waste generated by the population. The availability of the Natural Rubber (Latex) is
enormous, as the rubber is a product obtained from Latex (e.g., mattresses, gloves, swim caps,
balloons) has become part of daily life. If it is not recycled, its present disposal is either by land
filling or by incineration. Both the processes have certain impact on the environment.
Various studies are being carried out to improve the quality of bitumen used in bituminous
road construction. One of the results of such studies is to use polymer-modified bitumen. Polymer
modified bitumen is emerging as one of the important construction materials for flexible pavements.
Use of polymers in the construction of flexible pavement is gaining importance because of the
several reasons. The polymer modified bitumen show better properties for road construction and
plastics waste, otherwise considered to be a pollution menace, can find its use in this process and this
can help solving the problem of pollution. Bitumen is a useful binder for road construction. Different
grades of bitumen like 30/40, 60/70 and 80/100 are available on the basis of their penetration values.
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. The studies on the
thermal behavior and binding property of the Natural Rubber promoted a study on the preparation of
Natural Rubber-bitumen blend and its properties to find the suitability of the blend for road
construction. “The initial cost is higher by around 20 per cent, but life-cycle cost is considerably
lesser than roads surfaced using modified bitumen”.