The secret to good roads is recycled tires

Roads are always in need of repair. That’s why we always see professionals (or robots) working on them before the summer to make vacation trips safe.

But what if we could change the formula of asphalt so that it breaks a lot less? A new recipe may help them keep longer.

Australian researchers have demonstrated the great benefit of adding rubber from old tires to asphalt: extra sun protection that can help roads last twice as long before they crack.

In a new study, Researchers from the Australian University of RMIT have found an environmentally friendly way to protect roads from the sun’s rays.since solar heat is the main culprit in the destruction of asphalt.

The key is to add shredded rubber, a form of shredded material made from waste rubber products such as old tires.

And since it has already been shown to be useful in increasing the strength and resistance of concrete to heat, the researchers wondered if it could protect asphalt from being destroyed by ultraviolet light.

To test this idea, the team added rubber to the top layer of asphalt. in three different concentrations: 7.5%, 15% and 22.5%.

Then, these samples were placed in a machine that exposed them to high levels of ultraviolet light for a month and a half, an accelerated aging process that is equivalent to what local roads will endure for a year.

Finally, changes in the chemical and mechanical properties of the asphalt were measured. The team found that the samples with the highest concentration of rubber showed half as much UV damage as regular asphalt.

However, adding too much can start to reduce the road’s resistance to mechanical damage.

“We have found that the addition of 18-22% rubber creates the perfect balance between improved rolling resistance and traffic fatigue, as well as UV aging resistance.said Filippo Giustozzi, lead author of the study.

Another advantage of the method is that it gives new life to old tires. This waste is a huge environmental hazard that continues to accumulate, so any beneficial way to recycle it is welcome.