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.

Asphalt concrete pavements in many regions suffer from premature deterioration caused by low-temperature cracking and rutting resistance under heavy traffic loads and high summer temperatures. While polymer-modified bitumen is widely used to improve pavement performance, the high cost of commercial polymers restricts its extensive application. This study evaluates the potential of polymer waste as an alternative modifier for asphalt binders to enhance mechanical performance while reducing economic and environmental costs. Experimental results demonstrate that an optimal plastic waste content of 1.0–1.5% significantly improves rutting resistance and increases binder rigidity. The incorporation of 1.5% low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) enhances deformation resistance, elastic modulus, and temperature stability. LDPE exhibits better compatibility with bitumen and dissolves more readily, contributing to improved binder homogeneity, whereas HDPE provides higher stiffness and thermal stability. The combined use of polymer waste with styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) produces a pronounced synergistic effect, leading to improvements in physical and mechanical properties exceeding 25% compared to Kazakhstan regulatory standards. Increasing polymer waste content further enhances the rigidity of both the binder and asphalt concrete, thereby improving rutting resistance and plastic deformation at elevated temperatures. The proposed approach offers a cost-effective and sustainable solution for road construction, promoting plastic waste recycling, reducing reliance on virgin polymers, and improving pavement durability, particularly under the climatic and traffic conditions of Kazakhstan.

Full compliance with the technology of laying road surfaces does not always show high reliability. Low durability of roads is determined by insufficient quality indicators of the bitumen used. Therefore, the transition to the use of polymer-bitumen binders is a trend in the development of the road industry, which have higher quality characteristics. Most often, thermoplastic elastomers of the styrene-butadiene-styrene type are used to modify bitumen, which are characterized by a relatively high cost. This work experimentally demonstrates the effect of the combined use of plastic waste and ready-made polymer modifiers on the rheological properties and chemical bond of bitumen binders to reduce the cost of polymer-bitumen binders. In the work, secondary polyethylenes of different densities (LDPE and HDPE) were used in an amount of 1 to 2% together with ready-made polymer modifiers (SBS and Elvaloy). The physical-mechanical properties of the obtained bitumen binders were determined by standard methods according to ST RK. The results of the study show that with the increase of plastic waste, the plasticity range of bitumen in the presence of modifiers increases. This indicates that the finished polymers have a significant effect on improving the physical and mechanical properties of modified bitumen. New results were obtained on the effect of plastic waste on the quality of polymer-bitumen binder. According to the results of the work, it was found that the selected plastic waste is compatible with the ready-made polymer modifiers.

This study evaluates the mechanical properties, storage stability, and dimensional stability of bitumen binders modified with partially vulcanized rubber (DVR), polyethylene (vPE – virgin and rPE – recycled), and Aerosil – silica (A). The study included ring and ball softening point, needle penetration, resilience, and elastic recovery tests, as well as an assessment of storage stability based on differences in the properties of the top and bottom halves after heat treatment. The results show that binders containing recycled polyethylene exhibit improved stiffness, increased dimensional stability, and higher elastic recovery compared to pure polyethylene-based systems. The addition of Aerosil significantly improves structural stability, reduces the softening point difference between the top and bottom halves by up to five times, and reduces phase separation during storage. Mechanical testing showed that DVR-rPE+A binders absorb 10-20% more deformation energy and retain elastic recovery values above 70-80%, indicating improved resistance to permanent deformation. Overall, the DVR-rPE-A system demonstrates the most balanced combination of mechanical strength, storage stability, and thermal performance. In addition to performance advantages, the use of recycled polyethylene provides economic and environmental benefits, facilitating the development of environmentally friendly, high-performance bitumen materials for road surfaces.

Currently, in the world, due to the constant desire for recycling, many countries are considering the possibility of using rubber waste on roads. Bitumen modification for roads in Kazakhstan is considered one of the most suitable and popular approaches. This article presents the results of research on the modification of bitumen with rubber chips obtained from rubber waste. The document describes in detail the details of using rubber chips as bitumen modifiers, with particular emphasis on how they can potentially be used to improve bitumen performance and road durability. A wet process is used to produce rubber-bitumen binders. The wet process modifies the asphalt binder directly by pre-mixing with rubber crumbs at elevated temperatures, it leads to the fact that the material turns out to be the most stable, with increased elasticity and viscosity at high temperatures. The main physical and mechanical characteristics of the modified bitumen were determined after standard tests: penetration and plasticity, softening temperatures. The morphology of the modified bitumen was studied using scanning electron microscopy. The results confirm that bitumen modified with a rubber crumb with the addition of SBS meets the requirements for a polymer-bitumen binder of Kazakhstani standards and, according to its physico-chemical characteristics, is suitable for the production of modified bitumen.