Review explores polymers used in asphalt

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Jul 25, 2005

A new review explores the type of polymers used in asphalt, why they are used, where they are used in terms of applications and the benefits they offer to industry and the road user.

Modifiers have been used to improve the performance of asphalt/aggregate mixtures for building roads for over the past hundred years, and during that time the industry has evolved into a sophisticated sector that is heavily regulated by national and European standards.

The modifiers used take many different forms: polymers, latex and many chemical additives.

Determining how modifiers actually affect the performance of a mixture and establishing construction quality control procedures for these modifiers can be extremely difficult.

In the past these difficulties have caused many specifying agencies to avoid the use of mixture modifiers when they could be of benefit to the performance of the road.

This review explores the type of polymers used in asphalt, why they are used, where they are used in terms of applications and the benefits they offer to industry and the road user.

In particular, the reader will understand how polymers can be used to enhance the functionality of asphalt, that is to overcome deterioration mechanisms by enhancing asphalt stiffness or flexibility, or by making it more resistant to deformation (rutting) caused by traffic.

"Polymers in asphalt" is aimed at anyone who has an interest in polymers and their highway applications.

This Rapra Review Report is written by Howard Robinson who has been actively involved with company and industry level research and development for about 20 years.

He has been employed for most of that time by Tarmac and is currently Head of Product Development for the Tarmac Group based in Wolverhampton.

He has published more than 25 papers and presented at many national and international conferences.

Howard was appointed Visiting Professor at Liverpool John Moores University, School of The Built Environment in 2001 and is chairman of the annual LJMU conference that addresses recycling and sustainability issues affecting the aggregates and asphalt industries.

"Polymers in asphalt" retails at GBP 85 (plus postage and packaging) and is available from Rapra Technology.