Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Repurposing the disposable face masks in hot mix asphalt: Enhancing pavement performance and addressing plastic waste pollution

Researchers investigated repurposing shredded single-use polypropylene face masks as an additive in hot mix asphalt, evaluating improvements to mechanical performance of the pavement while simultaneously addressing the surge in disposable mask waste generated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

2025
Article Tier 2

Influence of COVID-19 Face Mask Additives on the High-Temperature and Fatigue Performance of Asphalt Binder

This engineering study tested whether shredded disposable face masks could be used as additives in road asphalt. Adding 5% mask material modestly improved fatigue life, but higher percentages reduced it, suggesting limited but possible applications for recycling mask waste into road materials.

2023 Advances in transdisciplinary engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Waste Mask Fabric Scraps on Strength and Moisture Susceptibility of Asphalt Mixture with Nano-Carbon-Modified Filler

Researchers tested the effects of incorporating waste mask fabric scraps and nano-carbon-modified filler into hot mix asphalt mixtures at 0.3% and 0.5% by weight. The combined additions improved tensile strength and fatigue resistance while offering a constructive disposal pathway for pandemic-era mask waste.

2025 Infrastructures
Article Tier 2

Recycling of Polymer Components From Waste Face Masks for Asphalt Modification: A Mini Review

Polymer components recovered from waste face masks (a major source of plastic waste since the COVID-19 pandemic) were recycled and incorporated into new materials. The study supports developing circular recycling pathways for the large volume of disposable mask plastic that otherwise risks fragmenting into microplastics.

2025 Journal of Applied Polymer Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Advanced Recycling of Modified EDPM Rubber in Bituminous Asphalt Paving

Researchers explored recycling discarded COVID-19 surgical masks by incorporating them into bituminous asphalt for road pavement. Testing showed the mask material, made from modified rubber and polypropylene, could be blended into asphalt base courses without compromising structural performance, offering a potential circular-economy approach to managing pandemic plastic waste.

2024 Buildings 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable use of COVID-19 discarded face masks to improve the performance of stone mastic asphalt

Researchers found that incorporating shredded COVID-19 face mask waste into stone mastic asphalt improved the pavement mixture's performance, offering a dual benefit of reducing pandemic waste while enhancing road construction materials.

2023 Construction and Building Materials 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating Effectiveness of Multi-Component Waste Plastic Bags on Bitumen Properties: Physical, Rheological, and Aging

Researchers characterized waste plastic bag samples dominated by low-density and linear low-density polyethylene and tested their performance as bitumen modifiers, finding they improved rutting resistance by one performance grade. The study evaluates a practical route for valorizing plastic waste in road construction materials.

2024 Polymers 9 citations
Article Tier 2

An Investigation into the Behavior of Disposable Face Masks in Modified Bitumen for Sustainable Transportation Pathways

Researchers tested disposable face mask ash as an additive to bitumen at 5-20% by weight for use in road construction, finding that the PEN 60/70 grade bitumen showed improved asphalt properties, suggesting COVID-era mask waste could be repurposed as a sustainable road-building material.

2023 Jurnal Kejuruteraan 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Infrastructure in the Age of Pandemics: Utilizing Polypropylene-Based Mask Waste for Durable and Sustainable Road Pavements

Researchers investigated sterilized shredded polypropylene mask residues (SMR) from pandemic-era disposable masks as modifiers for asphalt pavement, testing SMR additions at 3, 6, and 9 weight percent using thin-layer chromatography, flame ionization detection, and other advanced characterization methods. The study found that SMR-modified asphalt exhibited improved durability and mechanical properties, offering a sustainable strategy for diverting mask waste into road infrastructure.

2023 Polymers 5 citations
Article Tier 2

A Safe Collection Process of Covid-19 Disposable Face Masks for the Applications in Asphalt Pavements

This study developed a theoretical collection and processing pathway for disposable COVID-19 face masks to enable their use as a material in asphalt pavement. The pandemic generated massive quantities of mask waste, which contains polypropylene microplastics; the proposed approach offers a way to divert this waste from landfills while making use of its material properties.

2023 EPiC series in built environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating the cost of collection, processing, and application of face masks in hot-mix asphalt (HMA) pavements

Researchers calculated the full costs of collecting, shredding, and incorporating waste COVID-19 face masks into road asphalt, finding that while initial costs are similar to conventional pavement for shorter roads, mask-modified asphalt saves about 29% in maintenance costs over a 40-year lifespan due to improved durability.

2022 Heliyon 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Preparation and Performance of Bitumen Modified by Melt-Blown Fabric of Waste Mask Based on Grey Relational and Radar Chart Analysis

The melt-blown fabric from waste face masks was used to modify virgin bitumen for road engineering applications, with physical and rheological properties measured to assess performance. Radar chart analysis quantitatively evaluated modification effects, finding that waste mask materials can improve bitumen properties and reduce plastic waste simultaneously.

2024 Polymers 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Waste Plastic to Roads – HDPE-modified Bitumen and PET Plastic Fibres for Road Maintenance in South Africa: A Review

This study evaluated waste plastic incorporation into road materials, testing HDPE-modified bitumen and PET plastic fibers as road material additives and assessing mechanical performance and durability compared to conventional asphalt.

2024 Waste Management & Research The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Reutilizing Single-Use Surgical Face Masks to Improve the Mechanical Properties of Concrete: A Feasibility Study

Researchers investigated reutilizing single-use surgical face masks as a material to improve the mechanical properties of construction or composite materials. The study demonstrates a potential upcycling pathway for pandemic-generated mask waste, converting a pollution problem into a resource.

2023 Engineering Technology & Applied Science Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Second Life for Plastic Fibre Waste Difficult to Recover: Partial Replacement of the Binder in Asphalt Concrete Mixtures by Dry Incorporation

Researchers found that incorporating waste plastic fibers from municipal solid waste into asphalt concrete as a partial bitumen replacement improved resistance to plastic deformation and mechanical performance, with results approaching those of polymer-modified bitumen mixtures while improving material sustainability.

2023 Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of Plastic Waste on the Workability and Mechanical Behaviour of Asphalt Concrete

Researchers found that incorporating plastic waste into asphalt concrete using a dry process improved selected mechanical properties including stiffness and fatigue resistance in some formulations while maintaining acceptable workability, supporting plastic waste as a viable bitumen extender for road construction.

2022 Applied Sciences 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Face Mask Wastes as Cementitious Materials: A Possible Solution to a Big Concern

Researchers investigated the use of waste surgical masks as a cementitious additive in mortars without pretreatment, addressing the dual problem of pandemic-era mask waste and microplastic contamination. The study evaluated the mechanical and environmental performance of mortars incorporating mask materials as part of circular economy waste management.

2022 Materials 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Recycling micro polypropylene in modified hot asphalt mixture

This study incorporated recycled polypropylene microplastics into hot asphalt mixtures and evaluated the resulting performance, finding that small additions of plastic waste can improve certain mechanical properties of asphalt while offering a pathway to reuse plastic waste in road construction.

2023 Scientific Reports 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Developing Sustainable Asphalt Mixtures Using High-Density Polyethylene Plastic Waste Material

Researchers evaluated asphalt mixtures incorporating high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic waste as a sustainable road pavement material, assessing whether recycled plastic can improve or maintain pavement performance while addressing plastic waste disposal.

2023 Sustainability 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Composition Optimisation of Selected Waste Polymer-Modified Bitumen

This study examined how recycled polypropylene and polyethylene plastomers can be blended into bitumen for road paving, evaluating how mixing conditions affect the properties of the modified asphalt.

2022 Materials 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Incorporation of Disposed Face Mask to Cement Mortar Material: An Insight into the Dynamic Mechanical Properties

Researchers incorporated shredded waste face masks into cement mortar mixes at varying proportions, evaluating the mechanical and durability properties of the resulting composite. Adding mask material at low proportions reduced compressive strength moderately but improved energy absorption, suggesting face mask waste could be valorized as a construction material additive.

2024 Buildings 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of marine microplastics on the mechanical performance of bituminous binder for road asphalt pavements

Researchers investigated the effects of marine-sourced microplastics as additives in bituminous binders used for road asphalt pavements, finding that incorporating marine microplastics into bitumen improved mechanical road performance while simultaneously providing a recycling pathway for plastic waste collected from marine environments.

2025 Transportation research procedia
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review on sustainable utilization of plastic waste in asphalt: assessing environmental and health impact, performance, and economic viability

Researchers systematically reviewed plastic-modified asphalt, finding that while recycled plastic waste can improve road performance in some cases, it also poses environmental health risks through microplastic release, carcinogenic compound emissions, and volatile organic compound off-gassing, with cost-effectiveness varying widely by plastic type and processing method.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 5 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Recycled Plastics in Asphalt Mixtures: A Systematic Review of Mechanical Performance, Environmental Impact and Practical Implementation

This systematic review evaluates using recycled plastics in road asphalt as a way to reduce plastic waste. The research found that incorporating recycled plastic can actually improve road durability while diverting waste from landfills. This approach matters for microplastic reduction because it locks plastic into road surfaces rather than allowing it to break down freely in the environment.

2025 Applied Sciences 4 citations