Rubber modification of asphalt & bitumen with ROAD+ PREMIXED

AN ADVANCED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT FOR EASY USE
GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED can be used in any asphalt application, such as stone mastic (SMA), asphalt concrete (AC) or mastic asphalt (MA). The ingredients are high-quality rubber powder produced by Genan mixed with 4.5% Vestenamer®, a semicrystalline polyoctenamer produced by Evonik.

GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED is a refined product development of Genan’s original two-component modifier called ROAD+.
ROAD+ was two-component in the sense that it consisted of Genan rubber powder and Vestenamer® – delivered in separate packaging for the asphalt/bitumen supplier to mix at the mixing plant/blending facility (wet processing) or directly on site (dry processing).

GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED is a one-component modifier. High-quality rubber powder from recycled tires has already been mixed with Vestenamer® pellets and processed into a uniform, easy-to-handle modifier, simplifying the mixing process for the asphalt/bitumen supplier.

GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED is thus far easier and less time-consuming to work with than the original, two-component ROAD+ product.

ENHANCED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY
Laboratory tests and road projects show that, as a rule of thumb, a standard bitumen modified with minimum 10% ROAD+ performs on a par with a similar 4% SBS-modified bitumen. When comparing properties, e.g. rutting prevention and ductility, ROAD+ performs significantly better.

As GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED is a manufacturer-premixed version of ROAD+, properties are the exact same; and test results and field experience for ROAD+ modified asphalt/bitumen thus apply to GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED as well. GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED is just far easier to work with.

CONSISTENT QUALITY IS KEY FOR PRODUCT PERFORMANCE
It is of great importance for product performance that the rubber powder used is clean and uniform in size. As the world’s largest manufacturer of rubber powder from end-of-life tires, Genan has the technological insight needed to meet these requirements. Genan ambient rubber powder is not only consistent in size, but also virtually dust-free.

Follow the links below to download further information on ROAD+ PREMIXED.

Across the world, local and national authorities now realize that it is good business to use modified asphalt for new road projects. The product is cost-efficient in the medium and long term because rubber-modified roads are less exposed to rutting and cracking. Better durability reduces the need for maintenance, which is not only a financial burden, but also a traffic-related problem, as roads must be partly closed to traffic during road works.

Asphalt and bitumen modification is becoming increasingly popular. In several European countries, more than 20% of all bitumen used in road construction is now modified. Follow the link below to download statistics published by the European Asphalt Pavement Association.

In the past, the most common way to modify bitumen in road construction was to use virgin SBS rubber (styrene-butadiene-styrene). Genan ROAD+, a third-generation asphalt and bitumen modifier, was a major breakthrough. ROAD+ is made of recycled coarse rubber powder from end-of-life tires (ELT). In terms of performance and properties, ROAD+ is equivalent or superior to SBS modifiers. ROAD+ also has significant environmental benefits. Even at its launch, it was believed that, if a product based on ELT rubber powder could gain ground in the market for asphalt and bitumen, the environmental benefits would be substantial. Compared to co-incineration, an ELT-based product reduces greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel consumption. For further information about the environmental benefits, see the Genan Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Study.

NOISE REDUCTION

A recent study prepared by the WHO (World Health Organization) Regional Office for Europe quantifies health risks related to exposure to noise.

The study shows that in Western Europe, the equivalent of one million healthy life years are lost every year due to traffic-related noise. In Europe, noise pollution is therefore an environmental risk factor, the scope of which is comparable to air pollution. Not only does exposure to noise cause or contribute to discomfort, stress and sleep disturbance, it may also lead to high blood pressure, heart attacks, learning disabilities and tinnitus.

Tests prove that the use of ROAD+-modified asphalt reduces noise by as much as to 5-6 dB compared to conventional asphalt. As a reduction of just 3 dB (A) is perceived by the human ear as comparable to half the original traffic load, this constitutes an appreciable noise reduction.

NO COMPARISON WITH PREVIOUS RUBBER ASPHALTS
Rubber in asphalt is not a new phenomenon. The concept has been tested on previous occasions – with varying degrees of success. Nevertheless, the benefits of using ROAD+ – and now the improved GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED product – are far greater than those of earlier generations of rubber asphalt. The addition of Vestenamer® in compliance with the Evonik patent makes a world of difference.

Earlier generations of rubber asphalt were sticky and required special handling equipment. Asphalt modified with GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED boasts extremely good adhesion to the aggregate – but does not stick to tools or tanks. There is no need to clean tanks and trucks with release agents. No special equipment is required for on-site handling of asphalt modified with GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED.

RUBBER MODIFIER

A HIGH-QUALITY ELASTOMER BITUMEN AND ASPHALT MODIFIER

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WHY MODIFY ASPHALT AND BITUMEN?

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WHERE TO USE GENAN ROAD+ PREMIXED

“ROAD+ modified asphalt improves the performance of all types of roads from smaller country roads over heavily trafficked motorways to industrial properties. The use of the ROAD+ system for all these different applications shows the full scale of its elevated technical properties.”

MIGRATION

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EMISSIONS

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RECYCLABILITY

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GREENHOUSE GAS SAVINGS

NOISE REDUCTION

FLEXIBILITY IN THE FIELD

SUITABLE FOR BOTH WET AND DRY PROCESSING

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Granulate

Color-coated granulate

Powder

Rubber modifier

Pellets

Steel

Textile