Fuente: Journal of applied polymer Lugar: RESEARCH ARTICLE Ethylene-vinyl acetate serves as an effective macromolecular compatibilizer in waste polyethylene modified bitumen, reducing polymer domain size from 500 to 50 nm and eliminating phase separation. The optimized hybrid binder demonstrates superior high-temperature rutting resistance while maintaining low-temperature flexibility, offering a sustainable pathway for valorizing problematic plastic waste into durable pavement materials.

ABSTRACT
The global plastic waste crisis necessitates a portfolio of innovative and complementary recycling strategies, particularly, for polyethylene (PE), which constitutes a significant fraction of postconsumer waste. This study introduces a practical method to valorize waste PE in bitumen by using ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) as a macromolecular compatibilizer, overcoming the severe thermodynamic immiscibility that typically leads to phase separation and poor pavement performance. This approach refined the composite morphology, reducing the dispersed polymer domain size from 200–500 nm to 50–150 nm, and enhanced storage stability (softening point difference ΔT = 2.9°C). The optimized hybrid binder (3% waste PE and 2% EVA) demonstrated a superior balance of properties: increased high-temperature stiffness (softening point = 59.5°C; G* = 9.2 kPa), restored flexibility (ductility = 60 cm), and improved resistance to rutting (G*/sinδ = 9.77 kPa) and low-temperature cracking (creep stiffness, S = 295 MPa at −18°C). Performance validation at the asphalt mixture level confirmed a 130% improvement in dynamic stability (2880 cycles/mm) and excellent moisture resistance (tensile strength ratio = 84.0%). This work provides a feasible complementary pathway to transform challenging postconsumer PE waste into a high-performance paving material, contributing to the resolution of both environmental and infrastructural challenges.