Asphalt and Recycling
Canada's first asphalt paved roads were built in 1915, making them one hundred and sixteen years old! They can be found all across the country. The world has a long history of paving with bitumen as well; It was seeping through the ground centuries ago to form natural deposits that still exist today. Fort McMurray, Alberta has the richest oilsands in the world and produces bitumen that is used to produce asphalt.
Over the years, asphalt paving modifications resulted in exceptional roadways and pavements which are evident today. One of the more popular methods today of asphalt paving is called "asphalt pulverization." It has real costs savings and is environmentally friendly as well.
Asphalt paving (whether a driveway, parking lot, or roadway) consists of 3 layers, one on top of the other. The top is the surface layer. Then just under that is the base layer. And below that is the subbase layer.
With asphalt recycling, there exist a multitude of alternatives to the traditional composition that is 95% aggregate. This encourages sustainable practices for major road projects worldwide because it allows for use of alternative aggregates without increasing construction costs and long-term maintenance efforts are decreased by as much as 50%.
Asphalt recycling introduces alternative aggregates into the traditional asphalt composition; thus encouraging more environmentally friendly methods with an increase in sustainability.
Asphalt recycling methods are the future of sustainability, as they create a way to maintain and repair asphalt without using any new materials.
Asphalt pulverization is one of three modern processes for maintaining and repairing our roads that provide an eco-friendly alternative by recycling old material instead. The other two methods are asphalt milling and asphalt stabilization.
Asphalt milling is a process that removes parts of the top layer of paved surfaces without disturbing or damaging its subbase. Parts are collected and mixed with new paving to be applied. This type of renovation avoids complete reconstruction, making it much more cost-effective for business owners.
Pulverization is a process of reducing crushed material into pieces that are smaller than the original size. Asphalt pulverizing, as opposed to asphalt milling, leaves the pulverized material on the surface and becomes part of the stabilization process.
Fortunately, the asphalt stabilization process doesn't have to replace old and cracked pavement. The crumbled remains from the pulverization process are transformed into new asphalt by a mixture of binding agents and black tar that hardens after one or two days when poured on top of it. Asphalt is not only stable again - but more durable than ever before!
Asphalt pulverization comes with some real benefits.
New surfaces can be re-store with little use of new materials.
Old asphalt does not need to be removed.
The process is quick, with minimal traffic disruption.
It works great on surfaces that are too damaged for simple crack fills, spot repairs or coat sealant.
It will extend the life span of the surface with less repair or repaving.
And there is no additional cost for the removal of old asphalt.
It really is a cost-saving, environmentally friendly application. A win-win for all businesses or persons who are interested in saving the environment and saving money.