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Tensile Strength of AC-BC (Asphalt Concrete – Binder Course) Asphalt Mixture Using Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Plastic as an Additive: A Marshall and SEM Microstructural Study
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Researchers found that mixing recycled plastic bag waste (LDPE) into road asphalt, up to about 4% of the mix, actually makes roads stronger and more crack-resistant, offering a practical way to reuse plastic trash instead of letting it pile up in landfills or waterways. While this study focused on road durability rather than health effects directly, keeping plastic waste out of the environment matters for human health too, since plastic that breaks down outdoors can become microplastics that end up in our water, food, and eventually our bodies.
Flexible pavement, particularly the Asphalt Concrete–Binder Course (AC-BC) layer, plays an important role in distributing traffic loads and therefore requires an asphalt mixture with good tensile strength. Meanwhile, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste remains a significant environmental problem in Indonesia. This study analyzes the effect of adding LDPE plastic as an additive on the Indirect Tensile Strength (ITS) of AC-BC asphalt mixtures and observes the resulting microstructural changes through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) testing. LDPE was added using the dry process at variations of 0%, 2%, 3%, 4%, and 5% of the coarse aggregate weight, at the optimum bitumen content (5.80%) obtained from Marshall testing. Specimens were evaluated through Marshall and indirect tensile strength testing. Results show that the ITS value increased with increasing LDPE content up to 4%, reaching a maximum of 0.108 kg/mm², before decreasing at 5% content. A quadratic regression analysis (y = −0.0038x² + 0.0261x + 0.637; R² = 0.9957) produced a theoretical optimum point at 3.434% LDPE content with a maximum ITS value of 0.107 kg/mm², closely matching the experimental result. SEM observations supported these findings: the 4% LDPE content produced the most homogeneous surface morphology, with better interfacial bonding among aggregate, bitumen, and LDPE, and fewer voids and microcracks, whereas the 5% content exhibited LDPE particle agglomeration that reduced mixture compatibility. Based on the combined results of Marshall, ITS, and SEM testing, an LDPE content of 4% is recommended as the optimum level for improving the resistance of AC-BC mixtures to cracking under indirect tensile loading.
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Researchers found that mixing recycled plastic bag waste (LDPE) into road pavement, up to about 4%, actually makes roads stronger and more crack-resistant, offering a promising way to reuse plastic trash instead of sending it to landfills or letting it pollute the environment. This matters for human health because reducing plastic waste in the environment means less of it breaking down into microplastics that can end up in our water, food, and air; however, this study focused on pavement durability, not on whether plastic-infused roads themselves shed microplastics over time, so that question still needs research.
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Researchers found that mixing shredded plastic waste (about 9% by content) into road asphalt makes roads stronger and longer-lasting, while also giving old plastic a useful second life instead of piling up in landfills or oceans. This isn't a direct human health study, but it matters for public health because it offers a practical way to reduce plastic pollution—one of the sources of microplastics that eventually end up in our water, food, and even our bodies. As a bonus, it could save money on road repairs, making it a win for both the environment and infrastructure budgets.
Laboratory Hydraulic Conductivity Assessment of Recycled Crushed Concrete Aggregate and Plastic Mix Pavement Base
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This study isn't about human health directly—it's civil engineering research testing whether recycled concrete and plastic waste (like HDPE and PP) can be mixed into road base material instead of dumped in landfills. Researchers found that adding a small amount of recycled plastic actually improved the material's drainage properties, which could make roads more durable and reduce plastic waste. Worth noting: this involves plastic used as solid structural material under roads, not something that breaks down into microplastics you'd encounter directly.
Performance Evaluation of Marshall Mixed Asphalt Concrete-Binder Course (AC-BC) Using Modified LDPE Waste Asphalt with the Wet Method
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This study tested adding Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) plastic waste to road asphalt binder layers and found it improved pavement stability, with the best results at a 7% LDPE addition rate. While focused on road engineering rather than microplastic pollution, it is relevant because plastics incorporated into asphalt can fragment and shed tire-road microplastic particles into the environment over time.
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This study isn't really about human health—it's about road construction. Researchers found that mixing shredded plastic waste (up to 10-15%) with quarry dust and manufactured sand can actually make concrete roads stronger while cutting down on river sand mining and diverting plastic from landfills. One thing worth noting: this research didn't test whether these roads shed microplastics over time as they wear down, which could be a useful follow-up question for environmental and health researchers given how much attention microplastic exposure is getting lately.
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