Foaming the Asphalt: New Warm-Mix Technique Challenges Conventional Wisdom

In this article the author describes the use of water as a foaming agent in warm-mix asphalt (WAM) binder to reduce viscosity and lower the WAM’s mixing and compaction temperature. This is explained to be a counterintuitive practice as typically for HMA water is detrimental to the mix. One advantage of using WAM over HMA is that, as the mixing temperature is 50 degrees lower, a fuel savings of about 11 percent can be expected in addition to upping the hourly output rate. The procedure can also utilize reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for further cost savings. In a case example given, both virgin and 30 percent RAP surfaces were tested by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), which found that neither surface was prone to moisture penetration.

• Authors:
  • Cervarich, Margaret
• Publication Date: 2007-7

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 23-24, 42
• Serial:
  • HMAT: Hot Mix Asphalt Technology
  • Volume: 12
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: National Asphalt Pavement Association (NAPA)

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Asphalt pavements; Bituminous mixtures; Bituminous pavements; Foamed asphalt; Warm mix paving mixtures
• Subject Areas: Highways; Materials; Pavements; I23: Properties of Road Surfaces; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01054549
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 30 2007 8:30AM