Currently, implementing technologies to reduce the manufacturing and paving temperatures of asphalt mixes used in road construction and to use recycled material (RAP) from the maintenance of rehabilitated roads is a priority in the construction sector, both for companies and public administrations in charge of road construction and maintenance.
Bituminous mixtures are made up of aggregates and bitumens, and an optimum aggregate envelope is necessary to achieve an asphalt mixture with acceptable mechanical performance. The manufacturing temperatures conventionally used are in the range of 165-175 ºC.
In this project we are going to develop a technology based on the foaming of bitumen used in the manufacture of bituminous mixtures with the aim of reducing its viscosity and, therefore, lowering the temperature required to achieve optimum aggregate envelopment. To this end, with the use of bitumen foaming laboratory equipment, asphalt mixes will be designed with percentages of between 20-25% of recycled material, in which the temperature can be reduced to between 30-40 ºC for their manufacture.
With the implementation of this project, we can contribute to benefits for both the sector and society. On the one hand, by reducing the manufacturing temperature of asphalt mixtures, energy (and economic) savings will be obtained for companies and public administrations. On the other hand, the circular economy and sustainability will be boosted by increasing the use of recycled asphalt material (RAP) and reducing CO2 emissions.
This project is financed through a grant from the Instituto de Fomento de la Región de Murcia aimed at the Technological Centres of the Region of Murcia, Modality 1: R&D Projects, co-financed by 80% by the ERDF global grant.
