https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210302-could-plastic-roads-make-for-a-smoother-ride
QuoteAs well as ensuring these plastics don't go to landfill, incinerator or the ocean, there is some evidence that the plastic also helps the road function better. Adding plastic to roads appears to slow their deterioration and minimise potholes. ... By Vasudevan's calculations, incorporating the waste plastic instead of incinerating it also saves three tonnes of carbon dioxide for every kilometre of road. And there are economic benefits too, with the incorporation of plastic resulting in savings of roughly $670 (£480) per kilometre of road.
I like the idea of this a lot. We're choking on plastics that can't be recycled. I could see this for use on US local (lower speed) roads right away since it's low tech.
My question, and what the USDOT will want to know for use on Interstates, is how slick is it in all conditions? Glassphalt was a big recycling buzz in the early 1970's that got tested but never really adopted. I remember reading a few years ago that it only was approved for roads with slower speeds like 45 mph because it's slicker than regular asphalt.
I understand it to be an underlayment, so the surface would be standard asphalt (aka bitumen)
QuoteThe melted plastics then coat the aggregate in a thin layer. Then heated bitumen is added on top