Use of GRP Pipe Waste Powder as a Filler Replacement in Hot-Mix Asphalt

Abstract

There is an increasing global trend to find sustainable, environmentally friendly and cost-effective materials as an alternative to limited natural raw materials. Similarly, the use of waste materials has been gaining popularity in the production of hot-mix asphalt (HMA). In this study, the sustainable use of glass-fiber-reinforced polyester (GRP) pipe waste powder (GRP-WP), gathered from the cutting and milling process of GRP pipe production, utilizing it in asphalt mixes as a filler, is evaluated based on lab testing to find out: (i) if it produces similar or better performance compared to the most conventionally available filler material (limestone) and, (ii) if so, what would be the optimum GRP-WP filler content to be used in asphalt mixes. For this reason, an experimental test matrix consisting of 45 samples with three different amounts of binder content (4%, 4.5% and 5.0%), and a 5% filler content with five different percentages of the GRP-WP content (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% replacement by weight of the filler), was prepared to figure out which sample would produce the similar Marshall stability and flow values compared to the control samples while also satisfying specification limits. It was found that the samples with 4.5% binder content, 3.75% GRP-WP and 1.25% limestone filler content produced the results both satisfying the specification requirements and providing an optimum mix design. It is believed that use of GRP-WP waste in HMA production would be a very useful way of recycling GRP-WP.