New Experiences with Warm Mix Additives (WMA)
摘要
Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA) can be produced and installed at temperatures 15–40 ℃ (59–104 °F) lower than asphalt mixtures created via the traditional Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) method, the most commonly used asphalt mixture in Hungary. Considering current climate and high energy prices, Colas Hungaria Ltd. has been studying WMAs with high priority for years, as they have the potential to reduce energy demand and CO2 emitted during asphalt mixing. We have been working with WMAs since 2008, when the first WMA test section was built with additives in Hungary. Later, in 2009 and 2010, further road sections were constructed with additives. However, in 2012, Colas Hungary Ltd. procured a mechanical foaming equipment, which led to the discontinuation of WMA additive usage. In 2022, considering renewed interest in WMAs, we tested seven different types of chemical additives, two different types of factory-added bitumens, and one fiber material enhanced with wax as a WMA additive in our laboratory. We examined the properties of bitumens dosed with ten different WMA additives and used the bitumens to prepare asphalt mixtures. Asphalt mixtures were studied for compatibility and were also tested at different temperatures using Marshall and gyratory compaction processes. The results obtained were compared with the properties of asphalt mixtures prepared with bitumen foaming equipment in laboratory. On-site trial mixing and construction were also carried out with laboratory-tested and laboratory-selected WMA additives. This article reports on the results of the experimental production and installation.