Investigation of the Properties of Waste Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) Modified Bitumen

Abstract

The "white pollution" caused by the indiscriminate disposal of waste-expanded polystyrene (EPS) packaging foams in Nigeria not only poses a serious environmental threat but also results in significant waste of resources. Again, the poor waste management practices adopted in most of the urban and rural areas in Nigeria also compounded this situation, coupled with the known fact that polymeric materials generally do not decompose (i.e., are non-biodegradable) easily, thereby making them serve as a threat to the surrounding environment. Given resolving this problem, these discarded EPS packaging foams were used in the modification of 60/70 bitumen in this study, as it has been reported that polymer modifiers are known as a possible solution for improving road life in the face of increasing and heavy traffic loading when suitably incorporated into the virgin bitumen. The binder physical tests were carried out on the virgin bitumen and the hot mix waste EPS-modified bitumen samples at modifier contents of 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5, and 15.0%. The results from the tests showed that the best-improved properties were achieved at 5.0 % EPS modifier content with increased softening point (53°C), flash point (275°C), and decreased penetration (50 dmm), while its computed penetration index (-0.48) value indicated that this blend falls within the category of the most acceptable road bitumen. Waste EPS is a suitable bitumen modifier, which enhanced its performance and could equally solve the problem of “white pollution” in Nigeria.