Rutting and Aging Properties of Recycled Polymer Modified Pavement Materials

Recycled polymer-modified binders have emerged as a sustainable solution for improving the performance and durability of pavement materials. This review examines the rutting and aging properties of pavements modified with recycled polymers, highlighting their potential for sus-tainable infrastructure development. The incorporation of recycled polymers into bitumen en-hances resistance to rutting and aging by improving the binder's mechanical stability and oxida-tive durability. Key laboratory techniques, including the Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) and Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV), are evaluated for their effectiveness in assessing the thermal and oxidative aging behavior of modified binders. The review demonstrates that recycled poly-mers improve binder elasticity, delay oxidative degradation, and mitigate deformation under repeated loading, thus extending pavement lifespan and reducing maintenance costs. However, challenges such as optimizing polymer dosage, ensuring homogeneity, and predicting long-term performance require further investigation. This paper underscores the environmental and eco-nomic benefits of utilizing recycled polymers in pavement construction and advocates for im-proved testing protocols and advanced characterization techniques to enhance the reliability and sustainability of polymer-modified pavements.