A 2015 study proved that Gilsonite-modified binders significantly extend the lifespan of asphalt pavement. This research also means reducing the long-term costs of asphalt pavement maintenance. Thus, they gained very important information for businesses working in the field of asphalt coating.
Gilsonite modified binders showed significant improvement in;
Tensile strength – increased both unconditioned and moisture-conditioned tensile strength.
Compressive strength – showed significant improvement from compressive strength.
Rutting resistance – In all but one case, the addition of Gilsonite significantly increased the projected pavement life. The boost rate was calculated as 10 times.
Fatigue resistance – projected coating life is 5 to 5 times longer.
What is Gilsonite asphalt?
Good workability and durability are among the benefits of hot asphalt mix. It is one of the most basic materials used as an asphalt mixture in road pavements. It is possible to get better results by modifying asphalt mixtures and binders with various additives.
Gilsonite is a natural asphalt hydrocarbon that can be used as an additive to hot-mix asphalt. It is used as an asphalt binder modifier (wet process) and an asphalt mix modifier (dry process) to improve the mixture properties. It offers different features such as improved rheological properties, stability, durability, rutting resistance, and moisture sensitivity options.
What is the use of Gilsonite?
There are several ways to use Gilsonite in different industries. Some examples of using Gilsonite;
- In drilling mud fluids and oil well cementing
- As asphalt modifiers
- As foundry sands and casting sands additives
- In cementing slurries
- To insulate tanks, tubes, and even molding
- As a binder and additive in steel desulfurization products
- To make waterproof coatings for water pipes
- Asphalt driveway coat sealer
- Solvent-based and emulsion pavement sealers
- As a performance-enhancing agent for asphalt mixes
- As an organic fuel in fireworks
- For the manufacture of high-purity carbon electrodes in the nuclear industry
- As a binder in metallurgical additives and refractories
- In roofing materials primarily as an agent to lower the penetration of petroleum asphalt without aging or oxidizing the base Asphalt
- In Bitumen and Asphalt productio
What gives asphalt its strength?
Aggregate, any particle material, increases the durability of asphalt. Sand, gravel, crushed stone, slag, and recycled concrete can be used as aggregate.
What is the use of Gilsonite?
Gilsonite is used to increase the resistance of asphalt mixture to tensile stresses. Thus, the service life of the coating is extended. At the same time, using Gilsonite in asphalt construction helps reduce repair and maintenance costs.
Asphalt Pavement
Asphalt paving is a complex process that requires in-depth planning, precision, and special expertise. When it comes to asphalt paving, the important thing is to make long-lasting and functional asphalt. Beyond the multitude of techniques and skills required to complete asphalt paving projects, what is important is the need to have a solid foundation for your final product.
When important steps are neglected, faster deterioration such as premature cracks and potholes may be encountered on the roads.
Asphalt mix design, mix temperature, placement thickness, aggregate angularity, and compaction are crucial to consider when producing quality pavement. Each of these five keys is important in its own right, but they all work together to create a strong foundation. Asphalt pavement is renowned for its durability, longevity, and cost-effectiveness, but proper construction is critical to achieving these characteristics.
What is the Layering Process of Asphalt Pavement?
Seven steps for asphalt pavement;
- Demolition and Removal: Removal of the existing surface, whether asphalt, concrete, or paving stone
- Grading and Sloping
- Preparing Sub-base: The most important part of your new asphalt surface is the sub-base.
- Proof Roll, Undercutting, and Sub Base Repair
- Binder and Surface Course
- Install New Asphalt Surface
- Butt Joints and Transitions
- Final Roll: After asphalt and butt joints have been laid, the entire surface is smooth and compacted.
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement
Details of gilsonite benefits in asphalt pavement can be divided into groups such as;
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement – Gilsonite reduces material and saves money
By increasing the viscosity of asphalt, Gilsonite increases the resistance of roads to deformation and fatigue even at extreme temperatures. Other modifications or RAP-based high-modulus asphalts cannot provide this.
Industry reports show that Gilsonite-modified asphalt lasts twice as long as unmodified mixes.
The high modulus provided by Gilsonite allows the base and binder layers to be up to 20% thinner. Additionally, providing the same level of performance, Gilsonite uses less material.
Gilsonite has a lower cost in a blend containing SBS polymers and can also be used as a performance-enhancing extender.
- It significantly extends the service life of asphalt pavement.
- It allows for reducing the amount of coating material required.
- It reduces cost.
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement – Gilsonite is superior for recycling asphalt
Only the Gilsonite-modified binder bonds with the recycled binder, thereby stabilizing it, making the recycled asphalt as strong and durable as new asphalt.
In contrast, polymer-modified linkers form large molecules that cross-link into a matrix to which the recycled linker cannot bind. This leaves the coating vulnerable to deterioration.
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement – No other additive can match all the benefits of Gilsonite
Gilsonite advantages are;
- High strength and fatigue resistance
- Reduced temperature sensitivity
- Superior deformation resistance
- Water stripping resistance increased
- Reduced coating thickness
- Safe and environmentally friendly
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement – Gilsonite makes roads stronger
While a typical road can last 10 years, a road made with Gilsonite can last 25 years. It produces a stronger, better-adhering asphalt with Gilsonite.
Gilsonite Benefits-Asphalt Pavement – Gilsonite is proven to perform
Gilsonite’s unique properties make the road less susceptible to high temperature and deformation performance problems. Gilsonite can also be added directly to the hot mix plant without the need for additional equipment.
Summary
Gilsonite has higher stability, less deformation, lower temperature sensitivity, and water-stripping resistance than unmodified asphalts. Gilsonite is also used to make both solvent-based and emulsion coatings that have superior appearance and weather resistance.
Significantly extending the lifespan of asphalt pavement and allowing the amount of paving material required to be reduced, Gilsonite has also been proven to provide significant cost-effectiveness.
FAQ
Asphalt is a composite of aggregates, sand, and bitumen; where bitumen acts as a liquid binding material that holds asphalt together.
- What is the best type of asphalt?
Hot-mix asphalt
Black Tar doesn’t recommend warm or cold mix asphalt
Porous asphalt
Perpetual pavement
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