An asphaltic concrete or paving material includes at least 5 percent, and preferably from 5 to 20 percent, of granular recycled plastic, which supplements or replaces the rock aggregate component of the mixture. The material produces a structurally superior paving material and longer lived roadbed. The plastic may include any and all residual classes of recyclable plastic, including thermosetting plastics and other plastics having little to no current widespread utility. The material produces roadbeds of higher strength with less total asphalt thickness and having greater water impermeability, and is most useful for all layers below the surface layer. The recyclable plastic component of the material is preferably a mixture of all recyclable classes 3 through 7, or of those materials from such classes from which potentially more valuable recyclable materials have been selectively removed. The paving product is preferably formed by a process of shredding or mechanically granulating used and industrial waste plastic to a no. 4 to 1/2 inch sieve size, and preferably to 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch granules. The granules are then treated with an energized activating medium such as a plasma or a reducing flame, to activate the surface of the granules, preferably without burning or melting the plastic. The activated treated granules are then added to the aggregate and mixed with the asphalt binder to produce the paving material. A slurry or sand mix of plastic and binder may also be applied over an aggregate layer, base layer or roadbed.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application by the inventors hereof, Ser. No. 08/555,527 filed Nov. 9, 1995, issuing as U.S. Pat. No. 5,702,199 on Dec. 30, 1997, and which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
A paver system comprising a plurality of paver pieces and at least one substrate. Each of the paver pieces has a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the paver pieces is configured for mating with the upper surface of the substrate, whereby paver pieces coupled to the substrate are prevented from moving laterally.
