Uthm
Uthm
2 (2021) 195–203
© Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia Publisher’s Office
PEAT
Homepage: http://penerbit.uthm.edu.my/periodicals/index.php/peat
e-ISSN : 2773-5303
DOI: https://doi.org/10.30880/peat.2021.02.02.020
Received 13 January 2021; Accepted 01 March 2021; Available online 02 December 2021
Abstract: Developments in the use of plastics have affected the increase in the
amount of plastics discarded. Increased traffic has also caused damage to the
pavement. This can cause damage to the pavement. For this reason, this study was
conducted to review plastic bitumen of mechanical test results from past research in
terms of penetration, ductility and softening point test. The last objectives is to
compare plastic bitumen results with JKR Standards in penetration, ductility and
softening point test. Six types of plastic bitumen mixtures are available (2.50 %, 5.00
%, 7.50 %, 10.00 %, 15.00 % and 20.00 %). The best ratio obtained is at 2.50 % on
the penetration test and softening test based on the study. The data obtained for
penetration tests were in the range of 60 mm - 70 mm while 45 °C – 56 °C for
softening tests on PEN 60/70 and PEN 80/100. This ratio achieves the specifications
set by JKR / SPJ / Rev 2008. For the ductility test, no best ratio is obtained due to not
reaching the specifications set by JKR. This is because the technique used is not
destroyed. Through this study, bitumen's plastic properties have been obtained,
namely, durability, stability, and strength. It can be concluded that the use of bitumen
plastic mixture as a binder is highly recommended as it provides an alternative to
recycling plastic waste as waste material.
Keywords: Plastic, Bitumen, Penetration Test, Ductility Test, Softening Test, JKR
1. Introduction
Malaysians discarded RM 476 million worth of recyclables two years ago. They recorded the most
waste production at 17 percent or RM 205 million, the second-largest source of plastic was 9 percent
or RM163 million. The plastic bags that drifted into the sea also killed turtles and marine animals
because they thought it was jellyfish. The production, removal and decomposition of plastic bags is not
as easy as expected. It directly contributes to the formation of greenhouse gases that affect global
warming [1]. Bitumen is very important to produce quality road pavement to avoid road damage in the
future. However, bitumen is a thermoplastic liquid because of its properties that act like a viscous liquid
at high temperatures and behave like an elastic solid. This proves that its unstable nature depends on
the area's temperature [2].
One of the main contributing factors to this problem is that due to the repetition of loads of traffic
on the road, a vehicle's weight can dramatically increase stress applied to the bitumen surface. Road
crashes such as cracks, corrosion and potholes occur in high-temperature countries as we know the
thermoplastic bitumen's properties cause its physical state to fluctuate and change with temperature [3].
1.1 Objectives
To review plastic bitumen of mechanical test results from past research in terms of penetration,
ductility and softening point test.
To compare plastic bitumen results with JKR Standards in penetration, ductility and softening point
test.
2. Literature Review
Flexible pavement is a structure that maintains intimate contact with and distributes load to the
subgrade and depends on aggregate interlock, particle friction and cohesion for stability. Flexible
pavement uses a more flexible surface course and distributes loads over a small area. It relies on a
combination of layers for transmitting load to subgrade. To take maximum advantage of this property,
material layers are usually arranged in order of descending load-bearing capacity with the highest load-
bearing capacity material on the top and the lowest load-bearing capacity material at the bottom [4]
Bitumen can be obtained from two main sources which are natural sources and petroleum. Natural
sources is bitumen located in geological stratum and can be obtained in the hard and soft term.
Petroleum bitumen is bitumen in colloidal from the refinery process of crude oil and has been widely
used in road construction [4]. The penetration bitumen commonly used in flexible pavement.
Penetration bitumen will form a hot mixture when melted by heating it to mix with the aggregate and
when cooled, it will form a very strong pavement and afford to support the load from the vehicle [5].
Low-density polyethylene has a good balance of flexibility, strength, barrier properties, and cost
and can have a wide combination of properties. Low-density polyethylene has high clarity, is chemically
inert, and has good impact strength and excellent tear and stress crack resistance. LDPE has applications
in sterile blister packs for drug packaging. Linear LDPE is used in films and packaging due to its
flexibility and toughness [6]. High-density polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer that the liquid can
become liquid and re-mixed to a solid-state. It's tough, cheap, and it has excellent process capabilities.
It is used in many applications ranging from plastic grocery bags to heavy-duty plastic containers.
Moreover, HDPE is also widely used in the construction industry for piping and electrical equipment
insulation [7].
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3. Methodology
To facilitate the project and achieve the objectives as expected, the research process is carried out
in the following order of methodology:
Start
Define Research
Problem
Review Data
• Penetration test
• Softening Point test
• Ductility test
End
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198
Talib et al., Progress in Engineering Application and Technology Vol. 2 No.2 (2021) p. 195-203
100
90
80
70 2.5
60 5
50 7.5
40
10
30
15
20
20
10
0
(Kashem, 2012) (Islam, 2003) (Panda et Al, 1997) (Abebe Welegabir (Hossain, 2006)
et al, 2016)
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Talib et al., Progress in Engineering Application and Technology Vol. 2 No.2 (2021) p. 195-203
90
80
70
60 2.5
50 5
40 7.5
30 10
20 15
10
0
(Kashem, 2012) (Islam, 2003) (Panda et Al, 1997) (Abebe Welegabir et al,
2016)
200
Talib et al., Progress in Engineering Application and Technology Vol. 2 No.2 (2021) p. 195-203
100
90
80
70 2.5
60 5
50 7.5
40
10
30
15
20
20
10
0
(Kashem, 2012) (Islam, 2003) (Panda et Al, 1997) (Abebe Welegabir (Hossain, 2006)
et al, 2016)
Based on Table 5, the value of 51 °C and 48 °C was recorded by having 2.50 % of plastic bitumen
for PEN 60/70 by Kashem (2012) and Islam (2003). The bitumen grade 80/100 by Panda et Al (1997)
was recorded 51 °C for ratio 2.50 %. From Abebe Welegabir (2016), the highest number where ratio of
5.00 % was recorded 56 °C for a grade of bitumen 60/70. This improved binding properties will reduce
the problem of sidewalk bleeding and isolation in the summer, which is one of the important methods
of sidewalk pressure in tropical countries such as Malaysia. All of the above values have been following
the standard specification by JKR.
Table 5: Best Result of Softening Point Test
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Based on data obtained, the bitumen PEN 60/70 was used for 2.50 % plastic bitumen recorded 30
cm value of ductility [8]. While Islam (1997) uses PEN 60/70 for a 2.50 % ratio, the values show 94
cm. By Panda et Al (1997), the usage of a ratio of 2.50 % using the difference grade 80/100 recorded
73 cm. Albebe Welegabir (2016) stated the PEN 60/70 indicates the value of 94.6 cm by ratio 5.00 %
where the highest value of ductility test. From Hossain (2006), the ductility test value was recorded at
95 cm at 2.50 %. All the results are failed based on JKR standard. This is because bitumen ductility
decreases over time and the rate of decline is not the same for all types of binders. Using plastic waste
with bitumen can slow down the ductility value rate even though plastic waste initially reduces natural
bitumen's ductility. If the ductility is excessive, it may result in the binder not functioning as a pavement
material.
Table 6: Best Result of Ductility Test
5. Conclusion
From this study, it can be concluded that the main objective which is to review plastic bitumen of
mechanical test results from past research in terms of penetration, ductility and softening point test.
Among the properties of bitumen plastics found through this study are durability for penetration,
stability for softening and strength for ductility. For the second objective is to compare plastic bitumen
results with JKR Standards in penetration, ductility and softening point test. This can be proved that the
best ratio is 2.50 % for penetration test and softening point test follow the standard specification by
JKR. No best ratios were obtained for ductility tests, although some data were close to the specified
standard specifications. This may be due to the ductility of bitumen decreasing over time and the rate
of decline is not the same for all types of binders.
Acknowledgment
This author would like to thank the Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein
Onn Malaysia, for its support.
References
[1] Jabatan Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal Negara (2011). Pengurusan Sisa Pepejal dan
Pembersihan Awam. Retrieved on April 20, 2019, From
http://jpspn.kpkt.gov.my/index.php/pages/view/106
[2] Mohammad Golam Kader Mahmud. (2017). Engineeering Properties of Bituminous
Mixture Using Kaolin as Modifier. (October)
[3] Ahmed, Z. (2016). Modification of Asphalt Binder with Various Percentages of Crumb
Rubber Flexible Pavement. Master. Thesis. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia: 2016
[4] Noor Khazanah A. Rahman. BNP 20303 Highway Technology. 1sr Ed. UTHM:
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia. 2019
[5] Dr Othman Che Puan, Mohd Rosli bin Hanim, dan Che Ros Ismail (2001). Kejuruteraan
Jalanraya dan Lalulintas. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. “Tidak Diterbitkan)
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