Researchers Hope Plastic Additive Adds Life to Asphalt
Researchers in Missouri are deploying an additive derived from plastic straws, bags and bottles into a test road in hopes of increasing asphalt pavement life and environmental benefits.
The University of Missouri’s Mizzou Asphalt Pavement and Innovation Lab (MAPIL) is working with funding from Dow Inc. and the Missouri Dept. of Transportation (MoDOT). According to a university press release, asphalt and plastic both come from crude oil; this makes them chemically similar enough to be mixed together. The plastic additive is expected to add three to five years to existing roads, and five years or more when added to new pavement.