Benefit of using expanded polystyrene packaging material to improve pavement mixture properties

Nowadays, large amounts of waste materials are being globally produced. One of these waste plastic materials is Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) which is widely used as a packaging material, construction material, and in domestic appliances. The disposal of the waste EPS is necessary due to its biodegradability and anesthetically view. So, the aim of this research is to assess the feasibility of using waste EPS as a secondary pavement material. Laboratory investigation was conducted to evaluate the Physical properties of modified and unmodified asphalt binder as; Penetration value, Softening point, and Ductility. In addition, Mechanical properties of asphalt pavement mixture were also evaluated through Marshall’s tests and Indirect Tensile Strength, for five percentages of EPS (1, 2, 3, 4, and 5) percent by weight of asphalt. The results revealed that although the EPS does not modify the asphalt binder, it enhances the mechanical performance of asphalt pavement mixture.