An increasing number of asphalt contractors and manufacturers are realizing the incomparable benefits of switching to using warm mix asphalt pavement instead of hot mixes. In addition to keeping overall costs down, warm mix asphalt has the added benefit of being more easily transportable and reducing the environmental impact of building and repairing commonly used roads and structures.
Although there’s been a lot of debate in terms of whether using warm mix asphalt instead of hot mix is actually beneficial, the proof is in the pudding. For years, the use of hot mix asphalt has been the norm in the western world until warm mix aggregates were introduced from Europe a little more than a decade ago.
The main difference between the two mixtures is that hot mix asphalt is manufactured at much higher temperatures ranging from 300-350 degrees Fahrenheit, whereas warm mix asphalt aggregates are produced at approximately 200-212 degrees Fahrenheit. Due to the far longer heating time that’s required to produce hot mix asphalt, it’s been proven that this method is no longer cost-effective and it has detrimental environmental effects that are avoidable.
Modern asphalt mixing techniques such as water foaming methods and the inclusion of additives are what make this reduced temperature production possible and there are a lot of benefits to executing this process.
Warm mix asphalt paving techniques bring a lot of benefits to the table when it comes to enhancing the ways in which asphalt is created and applied as well as reducing its overall environmental impact. Here’s an in-depth look at how switching to warm mix asphalt aggregates can cut installation and maintenance costs, improve the overall structural integrity of your pavement, make the jobs of contractors a lot easier, and decrease the size of your carbon footprint.
Whether you’re looking to repave or repair your commercial or residential property, warm mix paving aggregates are an excellent cost-effective alternative to the hot or cold mixes that are traditionally used. Warm mix asphalt is far more conveniently and easily transportable from the mixing plant to the application site. Compared to hot mixes, warm asphalt aggregates typically weigh much less due to their reduced thickness levels. This makes transportation a lot more feasible and less expensive as fewer trucks are needed and larger amounts of the liquid pavement can be delivered to each location at any given time.
In addition to being able to travel further distances with larger quantities, warm mixes also boast superior performance to their hot mix counterparts because of their lower temperatures. The use of certain additives or the water-based foaming process to make warm mix asphalt results in a longer lasting pavement mixture that’s also a lot easier to compact and manipulate while it’s being applied.
Warm mix asphalt also has a much faster curing and drying time, which means that businesses and roadways don’t have to remain closed for as long as they would if hot mixes are used. As the structurally superior aggregate, warm mix asphalt can also sustain greater impact in high traffic areas from different sized vehicles, which means that it won’t buckle under the pressure as easily as hot mix asphalt pavement.
Warm mix asphalt also cools more slowly in colder weather conditions, which gives workers more leeway and ample time to work with the aggregates and manipulate them in ways that suit the requirements of the project at hand. Greater permeability makes for a much easier application and compaction process, which also allows more flexibility and a much smoother end result. The reduced thickness of warm paving materials also makes it easier to work with in varying weather or climate conditions and this means the installation or repair job can be completed in a timely manner.
One of the major environmental benefits of using warm mix asphalt is that lower temperature applications can reduce the amount of fuel-burning energy that it takes to mix asphalt at a plant. Additionally, the asphalt can be heated much more quickly at lower temperatures during the production process, which inevitably results in fewer carbon emissions being released into the ozone by approximately 30-35%.
The overall consensus is that warm mix asphalt pavements are the most environmentally sustainable option because they can be comprised of a combination of recycled asphalt shingles, reclaimed asphalt pavement, and other repurposed paving materials to limit the amount of industrial waste being produced.
At Sure-Seal Pavement Maintenance Inc., we use only the highest quality and most environmentally sustainable materials during the production and installation of our unique warm asphalt mix. All of our asphalt installation and repair projects are backed up by our exclusive seven-year warranty, which ensures that each and every single one of our workers is properly trained with the required expertise to work on residential, commercial, and industrial properties. This includes places of business; major and minor roadways; as well as homes, condominiums, and gated communities throughout Toronto and the GTA. For more information about our company, products, and services, or to obtain a free estimate for your property, please contact us.
Photo Credit: iStock.com/nemmus
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