According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (www.acea.auto), the motor vehicle fleet in the European Union in 2021 consists of 249.6 million passenger cars and more than 36.7 million commercial vehicles and buses. In 2021, the passenger car fleet in the EU increased by 1.2% compared to 2020. This increase in transportation loads has a significant impact on reducing the durability of road structures.
Currently, asphalt mixtures are the most popular material for road construction. The production volume of hot and warm asphalt mixtures in the EU in 2022, according to the European Asphalt Pavement Association (https://eapa.org/), was about 280 million tons.
Ways to improve endurance
The main way to improve the strength and durability of MMA is to modify the asphalt with polymers. All asphalts modified in this way can be divided into two large groups depending on the method of modification:
- Modified bitumens
- Highly modified bitumens
The effectiveness of the use of recycled tire rubber (RG) is well known, both in terms of extending the life of road pavements, reducing construction and maintenance costs, as well as the cost of use [1]. However, the development of such asphalt technologies is not as rapid as one might expect.
The world leader in the use of mechanically recycled rubber from used tires to modify asphalt mixtures is the United States, where in 2019 about 17% of RG was used in the production of asphalt mixtures. In EU countries, successes in this area are less significant. If in Spain, for example, the volume is about 5%, in Poland there are few projects.
At the same time, Polish researchers and road companies have carried out a number of road paving projects using RG, which have proven their effectiveness in the long term – up to 18 years [2, 3].
Polish companies engaged in mechanical recycling of end-of-life tires are constantly developing, not only technologically, but also scientifically, to provide the market with products of the highest and consistent quality. RECYKL O.O. S.A. is the leading tire recycler in Poland and the second largest in Europe by volume. The company holds the industry’s key ISCC Plus (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certificate, confirming that the company’s recycled products meet its sustainability goals.
RECYKL O.O. S.A. is a manufacturer of the SMAPOL® additive for mineral-asphalt mixtures (MMA), made from high-strength synthetic fibers used in the production of modern tires.
SMAPOL® is the most cost-effective way to improve the physical and mechanical properties of MMA among known counterparts of similar use.
RECYKL O.O. S.A. has technologically advanced production lines, allowing to produce high quality GreenPowder® rubber powder of the grain size required by customers: 0.0-0.4-0.6-0.8 mm.
The developed surface area of each GreenPowder® particle makes it possible to achieve high efficiency of “wet” rubber modification processes of asphalts while reducing the cost of energy consumed in the modification process.
At the same time, RECYKL O.O. S.A. continues to develop in the direction of improving the quality and functionality of its products, modern quality standards are introduced, innovative technological solutions are implemented, and research and development projects are constantly carried out.
Poland can take a high place in the world practice of processing and using end-of-life tire recycling products in road construction, which will bring serious economic and environmental benefits to the country, but it is necessary to improve the law and standards for wider implementation of such technologies.
To this end, tire recyclers and road builders must jointly say – Roads for tires, tires for roads!
Maciej Jasiewicz, Chairman of the Management Board of Grupa Recykl S.A.
Bibliography
- Buttlar W. G., Rath P.: State of Knowledge Report on Rubber Modified Asphalt. US Tire Manufacturing Association. Washington, 2021, 108 p.
- Jurczak R.: Rubber (and fiber) pavement after 18 years of service. Road Engineering, 2022, №. 2-3, 35-39.
- STRABAG Präsentationsvorlage
