PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF BITUMEN MODIFIED WITH WASTE POLYETHYLENE WATER SACHETS
Yakubu Musa, Nnamdi Justice Anurunwa, Adamu Yakubu, and Akintunde Sunday Adeoye
Department of Civil Engineering, School of Engineering Technology, The Federal Polytechnic P.M.B 55, Bida Niger State
In recent times, consumption of sachet water has increased tremendously in Nigeria. However, due to its nonbiodegradable nature, the disposal of waste polyethylene water sachet (WPSW) constitutes an environmental problem. This research seeks to explore the potential of using waste polyethylene water sachet made of “Low Density Polyethylene” (LDPE) in improving the desirable properties of bitumen in our country Nigeria. The materials collected were pure water sachets and bitumen. Investigation carried out are penetration test, softening point test, flash point and fire point tests, ductility test, as well specific gravity for both conventional and modified bitumen to ascertain their properties. The bitumen was modified at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8% by weight of bitumen respectively for each of the experiments mentioned above. Penetration decreases from 68.89mm to 68.33mm, softening point increased from 48.50 °C to 70.50°C, Flash and Fire Point Test increased from 230°C to 276°C, 256oC to 307oC, Ductility test increased from 105.00mm to 118.67mm, while specific gravity increases from 1.040 to 1.050. From the results it showed that modified bitumen had improved properties in terms of load bearing capacity, safety, and ability to withstand heavy traffic, and road construction cost than conventional bitumen. One-Way analysis of variance (ANOVA) carried out statistically on the results of the modified bitumen showed that the WPSW had a significant effect on all the properties except for specific gravity