The use of rubber-polymer composites ELTC (End of Life Tire Compound) for bitumen modification was investigated. ELTC contains not only devulcanized rubber from used car tires, but also used plastics (polymers) such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). ELTC is obtained using the method of rubber devulcanization using a selective catalyst that allows selectively decomposing sulfide bonds at relatively low temperatures, while preserving most of the macromolecular chains. The characteristics of the asphalt binder improved after the modification of ELTC. After modification, the base asphalt binder became more homogeneous, and the thermal stability of the base asphalt binder increased. ELTC is evenly distributed, the compatibility between the components of the modified asphalt binder is good, which proves the uniformity of the modified asphalt binders. The results show that all ELTC formulations improve the softening temperature and increase their resistance to plastic deformation in the summer.

According to scientific research from different countries, crumb rubber obtained from end-of-life tires (ELT) during processing can improve the properties of the asphalt mixture, thereby extending the service life of the road surface. This paper presents the modification of bitumen with industrial rubber waste. The modification of bitumen for roads is considered one of the most suitable and popular approaches. This research paper describes the details of using different types of crumb rubber as bitumen modifiers. The modified bitumen’s main physical and mechanical characteristics were determined after conventional tests: penetration and ductility, softening point, and Fraas brittleness point. In order to obtain a rubber–asphalt concrete mixture with improved performance characteristics, the viscoelastic and rheological properties of rubber–bitumen binders and their comparison with polymer–bitumen binders were also studied. The research results show that with increasing temperature, the values of viscosity, shear stress and complex shear modulus of all studied bitumen systems decrease, the values of the phase shift angle increase, and the size of the rubber particles has a greater influence on the properties of bitumen systems.

The growing demand for sustainable and high-performance materials has positioned cellulose as a key biopolymer for next-generation functional systems. Beyond its traditional use, cellulose undergoes a qualitative transformation at the nanoscale, where increased surface area, interfacial dominance, and tunable chemistry enable functions unattainable in bulk form. This review provides a critical and integrative analysis of functionalization strategies governing the transition from structural modification to application-specific performance in cellulose and nanocellulose-based materials. A unified structure–property–function–process (SPFP) framework is introduced to systematically connect modification approaches with resulting structural features, physicochemical properties, and functional outcomes. Chemical, physical, and surface/interface modification strategies are comparatively evaluated with respect to their efficiency, scalability, and environmental trade-offs. Rather than cataloguing methods, the review emphasizes cross-domain synthesis and identifies key limitations, including high energy demand, reagent consumption, structural instability, and challenges in large-scale implementation. Particular attention is given to applications in biomedicine, environmental remediation, and energy technologies, where performance is governed by surface reactivity, accessibility, and hierarchical organization. The analysis highlights that no single modification strategy is universally optimal, and that effective material design requires balancing performance, sustainability, and process feasibility. By integrating conceptual frameworks, comparative analysis, and emerging design principles, this review provides a forward-looking perspective on the development of cellulose-based functional materials, supporting their transition from laboratory-scale demonstrations to application-ready technologies.

This study examines the influence of virgin polyethylene (vPE), recycled polyethylene (rPE), and Aerosil (A) on the performance of bitumen binders modified with partially devulcanized rubber (DVR). The experimental program included morphology analysis, determination of devulcanization degree, dynamic viscosity measurements, shear stress–shear rate analysis, load–displacement (F–Δl) testing, storage-stability evaluation, ring and ball softening point (R&B), penetration (P), and elastic recovery (ER) testing. The results show that DVR-rPE-modified bitumen binders exhibit 20–35% higher viscosity and up to 25% greater elongation at the break compared to DVR-vPE-modified bitumen systems, indicating more effective interaction with the bitumen matrix. The incorporation of Aerosil increased viscosity ca. 1.5–2 times for DVR-rPE and DVR-vPE-modified systems, respectively. Meanwhile, top and bottom differences in R&B decreased by a factor of 1.6–5 for DVR-rPE and DVR-vPE-containing composites, respectively, demonstrating significant enhancement in structural stability during storage. Mechanical testing further revealed that DVR-rPE + A binders absorbed 10–20% more deformation energy and consistently maintained ER values above 70–80%, corresponding to a higher elastic recovery grade at 25 °C. Overall, the DVR-rPE + A system provided the most balanced improvements in rheological, mechanical, and thermal properties, confirming its potential for use in high-performance, thermally stable, and environmentally sustainable bituminous materials for pavement applications.

This article explores the use of rubber–polymer composites for bitumen modification. The hybrid modifier consists not only of devulcanized rubber derived from used car tires but also includes post-consumer plastics such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The characteristics of the asphalt binder improved after modification with the hybrid additive. This study examined the potential of enhancing the physico-mechanical properties of road bitumen using hybrid modifiers based on waste materials. Experimental results showed that all hybrid modifier compositions (based on rubber and polyethylene/polypropylene) significantly increased the softening point of bitumen and improved its thermal stability. In particular, the addition of 20–30% polyethylene raised the softening point to 80 °C, which is 20 °C higher than that of unmodified 70/100 grade bitumen. It was found that an increase in the polymer content led to a systematic rise in softening temperature. Moreover, a sample containing 20% of a modifier with 10% polypropylene achieved an elastic recovery of 54–55%, meeting the minimum standard requirement in Kazakhstan (≥50%). Needle penetration test results confirmed the increased hardness of the bitumen, with the value dropping from 90.8 to 26.6 at 25 °C. Overall, the study demonstrated that the use of hybrid modifiers based on waste polymers and rubber can produce environmentally sustainable and high-quality road bitumen. The findings confirm that such modifiers significantly enhance the high-temperature stability and elasticity of bitumen, expanding the potential for effective and eco-friendly reuse of rubber and plastic waste in road construction.