Performance and Interaction Mechanisms of Bitumen Modified with Devulcanized Rubber-Recycled Polymer Composites
8 affiliations
- 1Pedagogy Faculty, Yessenov University, 32 Microdistrict, Aktau 130003, Kazakhstan
- 2Engineering Faculty, Yessenov University, 32 Microdistrict, Aktau 130003, Kazakhstan
- 3Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Al-Farabi Ave. 71, Almaty 050040, Kazakhstan
- 4Faculty of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, Riga Technical University, 6A Kipsalas Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
- 5Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technologies, Riga Technical University, 3 Paula Valdena Street, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
- 6Laboratory of Petrochemical Processes, RSE “Institute of Combustion Problems”, Bogenbay Street, 172, Almaty 050012, Kazakhstan
- 7Branch of LLP “KMG Engineering” “KazNIPImunaigas”, 35 Microdistrict, Section 6/1, Aktau 130000, Kazakhstan
- 8JSC “Polylema”, Jegaines Str. 8, Kauno District, LT-54469 Biruliskes, Lithuania
Abstract
The accumulation of end-of-life tires and post-consumer polyolefin waste is a growing environmental burden, and their reuse as bitumen modifiers offers a sustainable, large-volume outlet in road construction. This study investigated paving-grade bitumen modified with four pre-compounded, partially devulcanized rubber (DVR)-recycled-polymer composites, differing in polymer type and, for two of the systems, in styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) chain architecture (linear or radial), added at 9–15 wt.%. The modified binders were characterized by penetration, softening point, elastic recovery, force ductility, low-temperature brittleness, and dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), together with FTIR, TGA, and fluorescence microscopy. All four composites improved binder stiffness, elasticity, and high-temperature rheology relative to the unmodified bitumen, with the two SBS-containing systems performing best overall. At the highest modifier content, the best-performing composite roughly halved the penetration and raised both the softening point and the higher critical temperature or rutting parameter by approximately 28–30 °C, while also markedly improving elastic recovery and low-temperature flexibility relative to the base bitumen. These findings indicate that SBS-containing devulcanized-rubber/recycled-polymer composites are promising sustainable modifiers for producing high-performance bituminous binders from waste-derived materials.
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BibTeX
@article{bussurmanova2026performance,
title = {{Performance and Interaction Mechanisms of Bitumen Modified with Devulcanized Rubber-Recycled Polymer Composites}},
author = {Akkenzhe Bussurmanova and Anar Akkenzheyeva and Uzilkhan Yensegenova and Viktors Haritonovs and Gerda Eida and Aina Bernava and Romans Kornisovs and Yerzhan Imanbayev and Maira Turkmenbayeva and Paulius Urbonavicius and Murshida Aimova and Yerbolat Ayapbergenov and Martynas Jankauskas},
journal = {Polymers},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3390/polym18202537},
url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2537},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Performance and Interaction Mechanisms of Bitumen Modified with Devulcanized Rubber-Recycled Polymer Composites
AU - Akkenzhe Bussurmanova
AU - Anar Akkenzheyeva
AU - Uzilkhan Yensegenova
AU - Viktors Haritonovs
AU - Gerda Eida
AU - Aina Bernava
AU - Romans Kornisovs
AU - Yerzhan Imanbayev
AU - Maira Turkmenbayeva
AU - Paulius Urbonavicius
AU - Murshida Aimova
AU - Yerbolat Ayapbergenov
AU - Martynas Jankauskas
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Polymers
DO - 10.3390/polym18202537
UR - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/20/2537
AB - The accumulation of end-of-life tires and post-consumer polyolefin waste is a growing environmental burden, and their reuse as bitumen modifiers offers a sustainable, large-volume outlet in road construction. This study investigated paving-grade bitumen modified with four pre-compounded, partially devulcanized rubber (DVR)-recycled-polymer composites, differing in polymer type and, for two of the systems, in styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS) chain architecture (linear or radial), added at 9–15 wt.%. The modified binders were characterized by penetration, softening point, elastic recovery, force ductility, low-temperature brittleness, and dynamic shear rheometry (DSR), together with FTIR, TGA, and fluorescence microscopy. All four composites improved binder stiffness, elasticity, and high-temperature rheology relative to the unmodified bitumen, with the two SBS-containing systems performing best overall. At the highest modifier content, the best-performing composite roughly halved the penetration and raised both the softening point and the higher critical temperature or rutting parameter by approximately 28–30 °C, while also markedly improving elastic recovery and low-temperature flexibility relative to the base bitumen. These findings indicate that SBS-containing devulcanized-rubber/recycled-polymer composites are promising sustainable modifiers for producing high-performance bituminous binders from waste-derived materials.
SN - 2073-4360
ER -