LOW ENERGY ASPHALTS LEA ® FOR

SUSTAINABLE ROAD CONSTRUCTION

Olard (presenting author), Beduneau, Fallone

EIFFAGE Travaux Publics , FRANCE

PAPER 142

Miranda Perez

EIFFAGE Infraestructuras , SPAIN

Energetic & environmental stakes

°C kgFuel/T

Hot Mix

HEATING20

15

kgCO2 /T

20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

7

6

5

L Fuel/T

Cold MixAsphalt

Warm Mix Asphalt

Hot Mix Asphalt

VAPORIZATION

DRYINGHalf-WarmMix Asphalt

15

10

5

0

5

4

3

2

1

0

HWMA_LEA ® mixes(50% energy savings)

Traditional HMA productionTotal drying

180°CCoating160°C

Stockage150°C

Application130-140°C

filler bitumen160°C160°C

LEA® process (90°C, covered by 3 patents)� matching any asphalt plant configuration

� enabling energy savings up to 50% (≈3Lfuel/ton of mix)

� enabling a reduction in CO2 emissions to the same extent

(≈9kg CO2 / ton of mix)

Below 100°C, the residual humidity of aggregates makes the bitumen foam

Production on traditional plants

Example of drum mix plant

Key figures

350 road works400 000 tons

Pure & SBS modified binders

France: 30 LEA plantsSpain: 4 LEA plantsPortugal : 1 LEA plantUSA: 3 LEA plantsNew Zealand: 2 LEA plants

Lab evaluation of LEA® performances

- Workability: Nynas workability tester

- Water resistance: Duriez test

Preliminaryselection

optimization

- Compacting ability: Gyratory shear compactor

- Resistance to rutting at 60°C: Wheel tracking test

- Complex modulus test on field cores: IDT

- Fatigue test (optional )

Factorial Experimental Design : Optimization of the moisture resistance i/C

Bitumen aging: Pen after recovery

42

40

45

50

Pen

etra

tion

(1/1

0 m

m)

[Gaudefroy et al., ISAP 08]

Slight aging in the case of LEAs

27

33

35

31 31

20

25

30

35

40

Pen

etra

tion

(1/1

0 m

m)

Fresh bitumen HMA LEA1+A1 LEA2+A1 LEA3+A1 LEA3+A2

Effect of manufacturing process on Emission Potential

Lower Emissions in the case of LEAs

TOC(e) and Emission Potential are lower in the case of HWMAs

Correlation between aging & fume emissions[Gaudefroy et al., ISAP 08]

34

36

38

Pen

etra

tion

(1/1

0mm

)

58

59

60

61

Rin

g an

d B

all T

empe

ratu

re (

°C)

24

26

28

30

32

50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

Emission Potential (103.mg.s/m3/kg of bitumen)

Pen

etra

tion

(1/1

0mm

)

53

54

55

56

57

58

Rin

g an

d B

all T

empe

ratu

re (

°C)

LEA3

LEA2 LEA1

HMA

Some of our past LEA

road works…road works…

Aerodrome near Béziers (4000T)

AREA Highway A41: Test section 2007(700T with PMB’s)

4000-ton roadwork near Toulouse with up to 50% RAP

⇒ RAP capability

Fumes are overwhelmingly reduced at laydown

What did we learn on the field ?

NY State (USA)

Quick turnover to traffic

What did we learn on the field ?

Less soiling of equipment (plant, truck, paver, shovel)

⇒ reduced use of solvents

What did we learn on the field ?

Improvement of working conditions for workersLess embarrassment for residents as well

What did we learn on the field ?

Conclusions & ProspectsProspects

- Innovative LEA technology + at intermediate temperatures between the current

cold mix and hot mix asphalt techniques+ up to 50% energy savings+ up to 50% energy savings+ with the performance of HMAs

- 400,000 tons since 2005 with either low or high traffic

- Implementation of the process in other countries(validity with other materials, climates & mix design methods)

Thank you for your attention !

http://www.leahttp://www.lea --co.comco.com

Touching is believing….65oC