Plasphalt
feature, mineral — By Blaine Brownell on February 1, 2006 at 12:06 pmPlasphalt is a combination of recycled plastic and asphalt that creates a stronger more resistant road material. The Plasphalt mix provides superior wear resistance and reduces maintenance costs. It’s tough and durable, increasing rut and shoving resistance, yet requires no special handling or equipment. The mix increases the asphalt volume for greater coverage while lowering transportation cost due to lower unit weights. More resilient than conventional asphalt, Plasphalt is less expensive to lay down and maintain.
Plasphalt technology is a patented process demonstrating the innovative use of Treated Recycled Plastic Aggregates (TRPA) as a synthetic aggregate component used in hot mix asphalt. The addition of TRPA to conventional asphalt yields an increase in toughness, long-term durability and increases the volume of the mix. The process uses any/all types of unsorted waste plastic products, which are granulated to 1/4″ material, then conveyed through the treatment system to create TRPA. The treatment process renders all plastics into a standardized solid binder material. TRPA, when mixed with asphalt cement forms a chemical bond, which creates a structural matrix around the natural aggregate fraction of the asphalt blend.
Contact: Plasphalt Project, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
Tags: earthwork, mineral, repurposed, site
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3 Comments
Dense graded mixes did not like this material and material was difficult to work with because of higher temperatures.
so it does exist! when you have an idea, someone else will also be thinking it, right down to the name(so obvious a name though). wasn t sure if i should spell it plast- or plasphalt. anyways when i thought of this i thought it would be a great way to recycle plastics without separating types or cleaning the recycled material. i thought grease and oils,from milk residue to underarm deodorant,to motor oil residue(new or used)should readily mix with traditional petrolium based liquid asphalt. then i also thought plastic that would not melt and blend with the asphalt would simply become aggregate. good deal all around right? good work for actually taking an idea that would make people think you re crazy and actually putting it into action making it a reality.i would really like to see this pave north america, so keep up the good work. as for anonymous s comment, im sure if this becomes the norm, that equipment will be modified to handle this material.
Do you have a way of reaching them please email me thanks jmas41@hotmail.com I LIVE IN NM AND THINK I CAN HELP THEM.