Cover
Vol. 16 No. 2 (2025)

Published: December 15, 2025

Pages: 16-23

Research Paper

Laboratory Characterization of Asphalt Binders Modified with Waste Engine Oil (WEO) and Crumb Rubber Modifier (CRM)

Atheer Muhammed Ali 1
1Civil Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Muthanna University, Al-Muthanna, Iraq
History
  • Received: March 29, 2025
  • Revised: July 14, 2025
  • Accepted: August 15, 2025
  • Available Online: December 15, 2025
DOI

https://doi.org/10.37649/AJES-25-010

Abstract

Bitumen is a standard material for road infrastructure that is black in color, sticky, and thermoplastic in nature. It is well-known for its many applications. Due to rising traffic, global warming, and the constant introduction of new pavement varieties, forecasting road life has become increasingly complex in recent years. At the same time, a significant quantity of vehicle tires and waste engine oil (WEO) from different cars are dumped into the environment as hazardous waste. Additionally, it has been challenging to manage heavy metals and the substantial costs associated with their sustainable treatment. Therefore, this study looks at how Waste Engine Oil (WEO) and Crumb Rubber Modifier (CRM) affect the characteristics of PEN60-70 asphalt binder. The asphalt binder has been subjected to several tests at different temperatures due to the use of various concentrations of CRM and WEO. To reduce the usage of virgin bitumen (VB) and make bitumen a sustainable material, this study investigates modified bitumen using a waste crumb rubber modifier (CRM) combined with WEO. These WEO concentrations (5% and 10%) and CRM concentrations (0%, 4%, 8%, and 12%) were used in the characterization of modified bitumen, and then the characteristics of virgin and modified bitumen were compared. According to the study, adding WEO to CRM-modified binders reduces softening points by increasing penetration, as well as viscosity and workability, while CRM enhances rutting resistance. Nevertheless, the incorporation of WEO has a detrimental effect on the binder's ability to resist rutting. The study's findings also indicate that the use of WEO and CRM can enhance the resilience of asphalt mixtures to low-temperature cracking. According to the study's findings, adding WEO to co-modify CRM binders significantly reduced their softening point and viscosity values, making them easier to work with. Ultimately, the modified asphalt was found to exhibit positive rheological and physical modifications in the bitumen.

Keywords

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