Departments of transportation across Australia’s six states are exploring new ways to leverage higher amounts of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in their mixes to lower carbon emissions and reduce overall waste. Formulating a high-RAP mix with more than 25% RAP requires the use of an effective asphalt rejuvenator to restore the functional properties of the aged bitumen in the mix. To this end, several government agencies have begun trials to assess these recycling agents according to a recent article published by World Highways.
Sripath’s ReLIXER®, an asphalt rejuvenator or recycling agent, was used in a trial organized by the Australian Flexible Pavement Association (AFPA) and Fulton Hogan in Brisbane. As part of the trial, Old Cleveland Road in Brisbane was paved with a mix containing 40% RAP and ReLIXER as compared to a mix with 15% RAP and no rejuvenator.
“We have been very interested in green technologies, such as incorporating higher RAP content into mixes,” said Chris Lange, Technical Manager, Fulton Hogan. “We believe that this trial has provided us with a viable path forward.”
While ReLIXER has been on the market since 2015, Australia has more recently begun to consider higher amounts of RAP for sustainability reasons. ReLIXER not only helps contractors use high-RAP mixes that result in high performance surfaces but can also support a lower carbon footprint. The asphalt rejuvenator is formulated from an elixir of bio-based oils sourced from crops that do not tax food resources.
“ReLIXER lowers the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions. In high-RAP mixes, it helps reduce the need for virgin bitumen and lowers the overall cost of the mix,” said Ravi Rajagopalan, General Manager, Sripath Asia-Pac. “ReLIXER has been tested, vetted and adopted by experts from around the world, now also in Australia.”
Read the full article for a closer look at Australia’s focus on reducing waste in roadway construction.
