An isocyanate-based additive from BASF has been used to improve the durability of asphalt pavements. Dag Wiebelhaus, BASF’s global head of monomer product innovation, described the company’s work in this area at BASF’s recent research press conference.
Increasing pressures on roads, including heavier traffic and extreme weather conditions, mean pavements often need to be replaced after 10 to 12 years. BASF’s B2Last asphalt additive is designed to improve durability. It also reduces the carbon footprint during construction.
The additive is an isocyanate-based reactive system that creates cross-links within the bitumen, forming a polymer network. This improves the elasticity of the asphalt, as well as its resistance to cracking over a wide temperature range.
Dag Wiebelhaus said: “If a heavy truck deforms the road, for example, it should rebound and last longer. Laboratory tests have shown that isocyanates react with functional groups in the asphalt to form polyurethane bonds. Furthermore, at a macro level, we can It turns out that through this cross-linking, larger agglomerates are formed.”
The company’s scientists study the effects on asphalt in collaboration with experts at different centers around the world, including the Road Construction Laboratory at RWTH Aachen University.
The additive also reduces the temperatures required for the paving process. Reduced energy use helps reduce CO2 emissions by about two-thirds. It also improves its circularity, as more recycled bitumen can be included in the mix. Global rollout of the product is underway.
Dag Wiebelhaus said: “We expect to extend the life of the road by 50-100%, potentially saving a lot of money.”
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