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Volume 15
Issue 3
10.3390/app15031313
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Article

Recycling Bitumen for Composite Material Production: Potential Applications in the Construction Sector

by
Ergo Rikmann
1,*,
Uno Mäeorg
1,
Neeme Vaino
2,
Vello Pallav
3,
Oliver Järvik
4 and
Jüri Liiv
2
1
Institute of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Tartu, Ravila 14a, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
2
Cellula Ltd., Pronksi 6/Raua 1, 10124 Tallinn, Estonia
3
Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Fr. R. Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
4
Department of Energy Technology, School of Engineering, Tallinn University of Technology, Ehitajate 5, 19086 Tallinn, Estonia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(3), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031313
Submission received: 2 December 2024 / Revised: 9 January 2025 / Accepted: 17 January 2025 / Published: 27 January 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Waste Recycling Materials and Technologies: Latest Advances and Prospects)
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Abstract

During roof renovations, large quantities of waste BBRM (bitumen-based roofing materials) are generated, and the possibilities for recycling these materials have so far been very limited. In general, they can be crushed and mixed with asphalt to pave roads or can be burned for energy. While waste plastic materials are often recycled, the remelting process significantly degrades their durability and mechanical properties. Unlike conventional methods, our recycling process results in a material with properties that are in many ways superior to the original materials. It is durable, weather resistant, and has exceptionally high mechanical strength. This material can be used to produce various construction components, including replacing quickly degradable wooden parts in structures. The composite material demonstrates increased flexibility, enhanced tensile strength, and improved resistance to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and environmental degradation compared to standard bitumen. The process is simple and can be carried out directly at the renovation site using a portable device.
Keywords: bitumen-based roofing materials; recycling; polyethylene waste; composite material bitumen-based roofing materials; recycling; polyethylene waste; composite material

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MDPI and ACS Style

Rikmann, E.; Mäeorg, U.; Vaino, N.; Pallav, V.; Järvik, O.; Liiv, J. Recycling Bitumen for Composite Material Production: Potential Applications in the Construction Sector. Appl. Sci. 2025, 15, 1313. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031313

AMA Style

Rikmann E, Mäeorg U, Vaino N, Pallav V, Järvik O, Liiv J. Recycling Bitumen for Composite Material Production: Potential Applications in the Construction Sector. Applied Sciences. 2025; 15(3):1313. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031313

Chicago/Turabian Style

Rikmann, Ergo, Uno Mäeorg, Neeme Vaino, Vello Pallav, Oliver Järvik, and Jüri Liiv. 2025. "Recycling Bitumen for Composite Material Production: Potential Applications in the Construction Sector" Applied Sciences 15, no. 3: 1313. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031313

APA Style

Rikmann, E., Mäeorg, U., Vaino, N., Pallav, V., Järvik, O., & Liiv, J. (2025). Recycling Bitumen for Composite Material Production: Potential Applications in the Construction Sector. Applied Sciences, 15(3), 1313. https://doi.org/10.3390/app15031313

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