Reuse of Char waste as Road Material

Dr. K G Guptha* Yeshwant V. Prabhu Chodnekar #

Present study deals with understanding the material produced in Goa Sponge and Power Ltd(GSPL) about its
suitability related to Asphalt Concrete Performance in Pavements. A set of performance-related aggregate tests for
evaluating aggregates for use in HMA pavements. Pavement performance indicators assumed to be related to these
laboratory aggregate tests were permanent deformation because of traffic loading (both with and without stripping),
fatigue cracking, and surface defects (e.g., raveling, popouts, and potholes).The performance relationships were
developed based on laboratory tests.
The study on Reuse of Char waste as Road Material recommends the use of Char aggregates in wearing coat,
bitumen macadam, and wet mix macadam in road construction. Char waste is a processed solid waste of sponge iron
industry. This is selected as a road material in view of its expected scope of application, available quantities and
accessibility throughout the whole country. Its availability in India is around 193.4lakh tones and in Goa about
1.9lakhs tones. Various physical parameters, chemical tests, combination of Char aggregates with conventional
aggregates, binding parameters of it with the bitumen were evaluated through laboratory tests as per relevant IS
Code and MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport and Highway) specifications.
The objective of conducting physical and chemical tests were to get a better idea about the material properties,
suitability of the material, and if it satisfies or qualifies the code requirements. Bitumen moulds were casted for Char
aggregate and for combinations with conventional aggregate for various layers with different bitumen content. This
was carried out to verify the strength or the load it can take and to find its flow value using Marshall Stability test.
Since naturally occurring aggregates are scarce compared to the present and future demand, Char waste can be used
as better substitute. It is an eco friendly material. Looking at the grading of the Char waste, it can be comfortably
adopted for WMM, BM and AC. Since Char is used and handled at lower temperature compared to conventional
aggregates, it results in precious energy points saving. As it requires less compaction there is less fuel consumption.
Tests have shown that it is highly durable material. Considering Char waste from quantum wise, quality wise and
economy wise it is a positive promising road material..
KEY WORDS: Char waste, MoRTH, Binder, Macadam, Pavement, Marshal Stability