Rubber Powder Activation Additive for Asphalt Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current technologies for incorporating rubber powder into bituminous mixtures face issues such as slow growth and implementation due to interactions between conventional rubber powder and bitumen, leading to premature failure of asphalt pavements, and lack of sustainability in material usage.
Innovation Solution
A novel additive for physico-chemical activation of rubber powder particles is developed, comprising recovered oil from used lubricant oil treatment and low-density polyethylene from plastic waste, which is mixed with rubber powder to create pre-treated rubber that can be used in bituminous mixtures, enhancing technical performance and sustainability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If conventional rubber powder is added to bituminous mixtures, then the mixtures can be produced with rubber content, but the interaction between rubber powder and bitumen causes premature failure of asphalt pavements
Solution Approach 1:
The rubber powder undergoes preliminary physico-chemical activation treatment before being incorporated into the bituminous mixture. This pre-treatment modifies the surface properties of the rubber particles, enabling better compatibility with bitumen and preventing premature pavement failure while maintaining high rubber content
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical and chemical parameters of rubber powder through activation treatment, transforming it from an incompatible material to one that is compatible with bitumen. This parameter modification allows the rubber particles to interact properly with the bitumen binder, resolving the durability issue
2Reliability
If virgin raw materials are used for pre-treating rubber powder, then effective treatment can be achieved, but sustainability is reduced due to consumption of natural resources
Solution Approach 1:
The invention recovers and reuses waste lubricating oil that would otherwise be discarded. This waste oil is processed and utilized as an activation agent for rubber powder, transforming a harmful waste product into a valuable treatment medium. This approach maintains treatment effectiveness while significantly improving sustainability by eliminating the need for virgin raw materials
Solution Approach 2:
The invention converts harmful waste lubricating oil into a beneficial activation agent. The waste oil, which would normally be an environmental pollutant, is processed and used to effectively treat rubber powder, thereby converting a harmful factor into a useful resource that supports both technical performance and environmental sustainability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The pre-treated rubber improves the technical properties of bituminous mixtures, stabilizes viscosity, and promotes a circular economy by utilizing waste materials, resulting in more durable and sustainable asphalt pavements.
Implementation Method 1
a mixing process under stirring of the recovered oil and LDPE
Implementation Method 2
The process may be carried out for a variable period of time, preferably between 10 and 60 minutes, at a preferred temperature of between 70 and 150°C
Implementation Method 3
A novel additive for the physico-chemical activation of rubber powder particles
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An object of the invention is an additive for the physico-chemical activation of rubber powder particles that comprises: (a) between 1 and 40% by weight of recovered oil and (b) between 0.5% and 20% of low-density polyethylene. Another object of the invention is the process for obtaining said additive, the pre-treated rubber obtained through its use, the process for obtaining said pre-treated rubber and its use to modify asphalt mixtures.