POLYMER MODIFIED ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY
MODIFIED ASPHALT CONTACTOR™ REACTOR
Polymer Modified Asphalt Industry
The basic process used to modify asphalt cement with polymers (primarily SBS polymer) is to introduce both liquid asphalt cement and polymer pellets into a heated mixing (or wetting) tank where they are mixed and the polymer is softened. The mixture is then pumped out through a mill (or grinder) into a storage tank. This mixture is usually made at a higher concentration (about 8% to 12% by weight) than the finished product to minimize the energy required. As the polymers are generally fairly hard, the mixture is then pumped back through the mill several times in order to completely liquefy and evenly distribute the polymer. At this stage a chemical additive called a cross-linker is added to chemically finish the chemical bonding. The mixture is then transferred to a finished product tank, where it is diluted to the final concentration (about 2% to 2.5%).
Our blending technology utilizes the Modified Asphalt Contactor™ reactor for the mixing tank. The higher effective blending and heating capabilities will allow milling to be accomplished in a single pass, eliminating the need for multiple passes. This will result in significant energy savings due to the large motor of the mill (typically 200-300 HP), which would otherwise be operated for three to six times longer. This would also save processing time.
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