US researchers to develop eco-friendly asphalts
31 May 2008, 1746 Hrs

Add comment          Mail          Print          Write to Editor

Washington, May 31 (ANI): A new research program in the US is finding ways of making asphalt more environmentally sustainable.

Called the Asphalt Research Consortium (ARC), the research program is the Federal Highway Administration's first major consortium to improve asphalt technology since the Superpave effort of the early 1990s.

According to University of Wisconsin-Madison civil engineering professor Hussain Bahia, more than 90 percent of US roadways are paved with asphalt, which means any modifications that boost its recycled content, lengthen its life, or cut the energy needed to manufacture it could have a big impact on the environment and our pocketbooks.

One of his first goals is to develop so-called "cold mix" asphalts for widespread introduction into the United States.

Places like Africa and India have used them for decades, and research shows they can save up to seven times the energy of their hot mix counterparts.

Studies by Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency and others have found that paving with these cold mixes, also called emulsions, saves significant amounts of energy, especially when combined with recycling efforts.

These asphalts also cut emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases. But, a number of issues remain, and this is where Bahia hopes his research will make a difference.

"At US refineries today, there are very mature, established specifications for hot binders - our paving grade asphalts," he said. "But for emulsions, there is no clear agreement on how to define the quality. So, we have emulsions already, but we don't produce them as much because the specifications aren't as clear," he added.

Bahia first wants to develop quality control tests and standards that will encourage US engineers, chemists and road builders to adopt cold mix asphalts, or at least give them a try.

This means first defining the critical ways in which these asphalts fail, and designing systems for detecting the failures.

"We can then determine the chemistry or physics that will give us a larger margin of safety from these failures," said Bahia.

The final step will involve simulating various climate conditions in the laboratory to see how failure limits change with freezing cold or blazing heat. (ANI)

Related Latest

Classified documents reveal hostility between Brit, US commanders India, US at last getting to more deal making than deal breaking No apprehension about US viewing India differently: Manmohan Singh As in 2005, PM the driving force for finalising nuke deal with US in 2009 India to tell US no role for China in South Asia India will be among top three economies by 2050: US think tank Manmohan Singh to leave for US today Manmohan confident US will overcome economic crisis Counter-terror pact, n-deal, AfPak top PM's US agenda Counter-terror deal, trade, AfPak top PM's US agenda

Related Latest

Actress Grace Kelly's wardrobe to go on display in London museum Beckhams reward sons with new pets for getting good grades Germs really are good for us East Antarctic ice sheet losing mass from last 3 years Classified documents reveal hostility between Brit, US commanders Gene mutation 'key to glioma brain cancer growth' Jude Law throws oranges at gawping fans Two women hurt as bulls flee Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz' film set PCB chief wants Younis Khan to be part of Pak's Australia tour team Pak govt. won't stop cricketers from participating in IPL: PCB

• Actress Grace Kelly's wardrobe to go on display in London museum
• Beckhams reward sons with new pets for getting good grades
• Classified documents reveal hostility between Brit, US commanders
• Gene mutation 'key to glioma brain cancer growth'
• Jude Law throws oranges at gawping fans

• भारतीय क्रिकेट की मजबूत दीवार
• कंगारूओं के आगे ढेर, चीतों से कैसे मुकाबला करेंगें शेर
• Reducing greenhouse gases may not be enough to slow global warming
• बीकानेर महापौर चुनावः एक विश्लेषण
• Deepawali: The Festival Of Lights