This study investigated the use of plastic waste to modify the properties of road aggregates in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Tests were conducted on plain aggregates and aggregates coated with different percentages of plastic waste. The following conclusions were drawn: 1) Aggregate impact value and crushing value decreased significantly for polymer-coated aggregates compared to conventional aggregates without polymer. 2) Specific gravity values decreased slightly with increasing polymer content in the aggregates. 3) Performance of the aggregates was improved with the addition of waste polymer, as indicated by the test results. Further research should explore different polymer inclusion levels in aggregate coating designs.

1. International Journal of Modern Research in Engineering & Management (IJMREM)
||Volume|| 1||Issue|| 9 ||Pages|| 47-50 || October 2018|| ISSN: 2581-4540
www.ijmrem.com IJMREM Page 47
Uses of Plastic Waste in Road Construction in Maiduguri
1,
Abdullahi Muhammad Abba, 2,
Zara Kyari Kolo , 3,
Ahmed Tujanni Gubio,
4,
Deborah James Malgwi
1,2,3,4,
Department of Civil Engineering Technology, Ramat Polytechnic -Maiduguri
--------------------------------------------------------ABSTRACT--------------------------------------------------
This study investigated the use of waste plastics for the modification of properties of road aggregates. The
shredded plastics waste was thoroughly mix with heated aggregates forming a layer on the surface of the
aggregates. These plastics waste coated aggregates are tested for impact value, crushing value, specific gravity
and water absorption. It has been found that there is significant improvement in the properties of plastic-coated
aggregates after testing.
KEYWORDS: Aggregates, plastics, road, waste.
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Date of Submission: Date,12 September 2018 Date of Publication: Date 20. September 2018
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I. INTRODUCTION
Aggregates form the major portion of a pavement structure and these are considered the prime material used in
the constructions of various layers of pavement. The aggregate to be used in a road construction should be
sufficiently strong, hard, and tough to withstand the stresses and abrasive action due to wheel load; should also be
durable to resist disintegration due to the action of the weather (Babu & Raji, 2007). Numbers of tests are
recommended in the specifications to judge the properties of the aggregate such as strength, hardness, toughness,
durability, angularity, shape factors, clay content, and adhesion to binder among others (Bhageerathy, Anu, Alex,
and Raji, 2014). The aggregates are bound together either by aggregates materials or by cement.
Flexible pavements are widely used in Nigeria due to various advantages and economical constructions over rigid
pavement. The aggregate mixes are generally considered as surfaces and wearing courses in flexible pavement.
The utilization of plastic waste in the construction of flexible pavement seems to be a new concept. The quantity
of waste plastic in the municipal solid waste is increasing day by day due to increase in the pollution, development
activities and urbanization. The disposal of this waste plastics has become a serious problem because of its non-
bio-degradability. According to experts this waste plastic can be used in the construction of bituminous surface
road as a modifier of road aggregates properties and Marshall Parameters. Researchers make use of plastic waste
for the improvement of desirable properties of road aggregates like impact value, crushing value, specific gravity
and water absorption. In an experiment, a laboratory tests were conducted on the plain aggregates and aggregates
coated with different percentage of plastic waste, and the result is impressive.
The concept of using polymer in flexible payment has been done since several years ago in some construction.
Polymer has played a very vital role in increasing the strength aggregate as well as bituminous mix. Justo (2014)
stated that coating of polymer in aggregate improves the stability, strength, life and other desirable properties of
bitumen. Similarly, Vasudevan (2013) concluded that the polymer bitumen blend is a better binder compared to
plain bitumen. Rema devi et.al. (2012) maintained that the concept utilization of waste polymer in the construction
of pavement has shown better resistance and reduce the stripping of bitumen from aggregate. Amit gawande et.al.
(2000) investigated the use of waste polymer in road construction as an effective way to reutilize the polymer
waste. Therefore, this paper is analyzed the effect of polymer mix with the aggregate and determined the strength
and impact of the polymer coated aggregate.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
The use of plastic waste in flexible pavements would open up a solution for the disposal issues regarding plastic
wastes. Many research works have been done in the area of use of plastic waste in bituminous road construction.
For example, Bhageerathy et al. (2014) investigated the use of biomedical plastic waste in bituminous road
construction. They concluded that the marshal stability value of plastic modified mix was found to be 51 percent
more than that for normal mix which indicated an increase in load carrying capacity. In the same vein, Vasudevan
(2010) investigated that the coating of plastics reduces the porosity, absorption of moisture and improve
soundness.

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This study further explain that the polymer coated aggregate bitumen mix forms better material for flexible
pavement construction as the mix shows higher marshal stability value and suitable marshal coefficient. Hence,
the use of waste plastics for flexible pavement is one of the best methods for easy disposal of waste plastics. Use
of plastic bags in road help in many ways like easy disposal of waste, better road prevention of pollution.
Vasudevan and S. Rajasekaran, (2010) identified that the polymer bitumen blend is a better binder compared to
plain bitumen. Blend has increased softening point and decreased penetration value with a suitable ductility.
Gawande et al (2012), summarized an overview on waste plastic utilization in asphalting of roads. They reviewed
techniques to use plastic waste for construction purpose of roads and flexible pavements. Using one of the
techniques, Raji et al. (2010) investigated the utilization of marginal as an ingredient in bituminous mixes. In
addition, Sultana et al. (2012) investigated the utilization of waste plastic as a strength modifier in surface course
of flexible and rigid pavements. Their findings revealed that the potential use of waste plastic as a modifier for
asphalt concrete and cement concrete pavement increased durability.
III. MATERIALS AND METHODS
MATERIALS
1. Aggregate
2. Polymer
The aggregate : Aggregate was obtained from Borno State Road Maintenance Agency (BORMA) and the
aggregate gradation used because it satisfies the requirement of RC 111 (2009) for grading. It can be observed
that the selected aggregate gradation is within the specification range for hot asphalt mix design. Aggregate used
in road construction should be strong enough to resist crushing under traffic wheel load. The strength of coarse
aggregate is assessed by aggregate cursing test. The aggregate crushing values provide a relative measure of
resistance to crushing under a gradually applied compressive load.
The polymer: The molecular called polymer are constructed from relatively small molecular fragments known
as monomers that are joined together. Wool, cotton, silk, wood, and leather are examples of natural polymer that
have been known and use since ancient time. This group includes biopolymer such as protein and carbohydrates
that are constituent of all living organism.
METHOD
Modified Plastics Waste
The processed waste plastic bag from the garbage of local area in the shredded form was used as additive. The
shredded waste plastic was cut into pieces of uniform size following the steps:
Step 1: The polymer was obtained at Ramat polytechnic Maiduguri, pure water factory.
Step 2: The polymer was coated into pieces and dried it
Step 3: The aggregate was heated at 140-170
C for thirty minutes
Step 4: The polymer mention in step three added to the aggregate.
Step 5: The mixed polymer and aggregate heated for (30 minute).
IV. DATA COLLECTION
The following are the tools used in collecting the data for this study: Aggregate Crushing Value, Impact Value,
Water Absorption, and Specific Gravity.
Aggregate Crushing Value Test
The aggregate crushing value test coarse aggregate gives a relative measure of the resistance of aggregate crushing
value under a gradually applied compressive load. Uses of aggregate crushing value
1. The aggregate crushing value test are used to determine the aggregate crushing value of cause aggregate.
2. Assess suitability of coarse aggregate for use in different types of road.
The equipment used are: A cylinder 15cm diameter with plunger and base plate; a strait metal tamping road
16mm diameter 45 to 60cm long rounded at one end; a balance of capacity 3kg readable and accurate to one
gram; the size of sieve 2.36mm; a compression testing machine; a cylinder metal measure of sufficient rigidity
to retain it from under rough usage and 15cm diameter and 1.8cm height.
Procedure for aggregate crushing
1. Put the cylinder in position on the base plate and weighted it
2. Put the sample in 3 layers each layer being subjected to 25 stocks using the tamping road, care being taken in
the case of wake materials not to break the particle and weighted it

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1. levelled the surface of aggregate carefully and inserted the plunger and it was rested horizontally on the
surface
2. Placed the cylinder with plunger on the loading platform of the compression test machine.
3. Applied load at uniform rate and total the load at 40 in 10 minutes.
4. Released the load and removed the materials from cylinder.
5. Sieved the materials with 2.36mm, care being taken to avoid loss of fines.
6. Weighted the fraction passing through the sieve.
AGGREGATE IMPACT VALUE TEST: The aggregate impact value test was measured to determine the
resistance to sudden impact or shock. The equipment apparatus employed are: Tamping road, testing machine,
mould, sieve 2.36 mm.
Procedure : First step for the aggregate to fill about just 1 to 3 road depth of measuring mould. Compacted the
materials by giving 25 gentles blows with the rounded end of the temping road add two or more layers in similar
of the manner so that is full strike off the surplus aggregate. Determined the net weight of the aggregate to the
nearest gram raise the plunger until is lower face is above the surfaces of aggregate sample in the cup and allow
it to fall on freely on the aggregate sample. Give 15 such below at and interval of not less than one second between
successive falls remove the crushed aggregate from the cup and sieve it through 2.36mm sieve until no further
significant amount passing the sieve is accuracy of 1gm. also weight of the fraction retained in the sieve. Compute
and observation of aggregate impact value test
WATER ABSORPTION TEST; Water absorption refers to the property of absorbing water when materials are
exposed to water, it expressed by the water absorption ratio. And the apparatus used in this study are: Cylinder,
Digital weight balance, Container
Procedure
✓ Measure 500g of a given sample (coarse aggregate). and pour it to the container.
✓ Measure 500% of water and add with the sample and close the container keeps it for 24 hrs
✓ After the 24 hrs then take their value
DATA (for 10%)
W1 = final weight of coarse aggregate
W2 = initial weight of coarse aggregate
W1=228.8
W2=302.5
DATA (for 20%)
W1= Final weight of coarse aggregate
W2 = initial weight of coarse aggregate
W1=576.0
W2=500.0
DATA (for 30%)
W1= Final weight of coarse aggregate
W2 = initial weight of coarse aggregate
W1=597.9
W2=500.0
DATA (for 40%)
W1= Final weight of coarse aggregate
W2 = initial weight of coarse aggregate
W1=563.3
W2=500.0
V. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
This analysis was carried out in the soil mechanics laboratory, in Ramat polytechnic Maiduguri, Borno state.
The physical properties was conducted on a plain aggregate coated with different amount of polymer waste and
the following tests were carried out: Aggregate crushing value, Aggregate impact value, Specific gravity, water
absorption.

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The variation of the above properties is shown in 1 to fig 4
10% 20% 30% 40%
17.17 16.02 19.44 14.25
VI. CONCLUSION
From the test conducted on aggregates coated with different amount of polymer, the following conclusions are
drawn: There is significantly a decrease in the aggregate impact value and aggregates crushing value if
compared with the values of conventional aggregates without polymer; there is small decrease in the specific
gravity values with the increase of polymer content in the aggregates. From the above test results, it can be
concluded that the performance of the aggregate is improved with the addition of waste polymer into them.
Further research should be explored to the design of polymer coated aggregate, in view of its cheapness and
abundance using other level of inclusion.
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