Abstract

This study investigated the production and characterization of composites of waste rubber and bitumen. Bitumen and ground waste rubber tyres were blended in different ratios using a mechanical stirrer; bitumen/crumb rubber (100/0), bitumen/crumb rubber (70/30), bitumen/crumb rubber (60/40), bitumen/crumb rubber (50/50) and bitumen/crumb rubber (40/60). All the samples were subjected to physico-mechanical test and FTIR characterization. The physico-mechanical property results obtained for pure bitumen to modified bitumen compositions revealed the range of specific gravity to be 0.9938 - 0.7211, viscosity; 9.435-10.912 (Pa. s), water content; 11.638-7.272 (%), loss on heating or stability; 1.841-1.120 (%), ductility; 19.200- 6.300 (cm), softening point; 57.900-69.200 (0C) and penetration; 46.220-51.340 (mm). The results of FTIR characterization of the samples revealed that the bitumen and all the blends showed the presence of the following functional groups C-C bending, C-H bending, C-H stretching, O-H stretching, N-H bending at 1377.22, 1456.23, 2924.18, 3439.19, and 1602.90 cm-1 respectively. The strong presence of -OH functional groups suggest a hydrophilic nature of the bitumen, but the shifts showed in the blends may be a pointer to the influence of waste rubber blended with it

Keywords: Bitumen, waste tyre, FTIR characterization,