Performance Evaluation of an Asphalt Mix Containing Non-Metallic Fractions of Recycled Printed Circuit Boards

Abstract

The growing volume of non-metallic fractions extracted from recycled printed circuit boards necessitates sustainable solutions. Integrating these fractions into road paving asphalt mix presents potential opportunities to bolster environmental sustainability and resource conservation. While previous studies have predominantly focused on the wet process of incorporating electronic waste into asphalt binder, challenges persist, including but not limited to the requirement for specialized machinery and concerns regarding the storage stability of the modified binder. In contrast, this paper explored designing a Superpave mix via the dry process followed by execution of fundamental performance tests including Hamburg wheel-tracking and the Illinois flexibility index test. The results highlighted that the asphalt mix substantially surpassed the minimum requirement of 80% for Tensile Strength Ratio (TSR), indicating excellent moisture resistance. Additionally, its resistance to rutting and fatigue cracking remained well within acceptable limits, underscoring the overall durability of the mix. Finally, structural analysis of four pavement models was conducted using AASHTOWare Pavement M-E Design (PMED). The findings indicated that predicted distresses consistently remained below the failure threshold, even when faced with varying subgrade conditions, traffic volumes, and climate factors.