Asphaltic Concrete
Asphalt concrete combines two primary ingredients: aggregates and asphalt cement, containing bitumen and hydrocarbon material.
Asphalt concrete is used in constructing roads, highways, parking lots, airports, and several other types of pavements.
Market Needs
The performance of asphaltic concrete, such as surface durability, tire wear, braking efficiency, and roadway noise, depends on the selection of aggregates and the adhesion between aggregates and bitumen.
Lime has been known as an aggregate and an additive used in asphalt concrete production to improve such performance.
Solutions
Limestone
- It can be used as aggregate with a better adhesive property toward bitumen (in asphalt) than siliceous aggregates, such as sand
Hydrated Lime
- It can be used as an additive, mixed with aggregates and asphalt cement
- Improve bitumen-aggregate adhesion as calcium ions strongly bond with bitumen
- Enhance moisture resistance as hydrated lime flocculates clay particles and neutralizes polar particles in bitumen, improving aging resistance of bitumen
- The high porosity of hydrated lime generates a higher stiffening effect on bitumen
