Trial section composed entirely of fossil-free asphalt

From the ambition to make road construction fossil-free, an important step was taken on Friday, Oct. 25, in Lopik with the realization of a test section consisting entirely of fossil-free asphalt. The test section is the result of three years of research by Latexfalt, the developer of bitumen- and polymer-based products based in Koudekerk aan den Rijn.

The years of research have yielded fine results in Lopik. "In the first year, we conducted extensive fundamental research to determine how a fossil-free binder should theoretically be put together," R&D manager Hans Hendrikse looks back. "After this binder was further developed on a laboratory scale during year two, the focus in year three was mainly on testing the asphalt that was eventually made with the developed binder as widely as possible. At the same time, during this final phase, cooperation with co-initiators Dura Vermeer and KWS became increasingly intensive. The latter ultimately constructed the test section."

Proof 

Laboratory tests showed that the binder of Latexphalt is at least as good as a traditional 70-100 bitumen, the trial will have to show, among other things, whether this is actually the case in practice. Accordingly, the trial process already began at asphalt plant APH BV in Hoogblokland, where the fossil-free binder was processed in asphalt. "The production went well and, moreover, no odor nuisance was observed," says Hans. "And that is good news. A biobinder simply smells different from regular bitumen."

Iterations

The processing of the asphalt at the test site also went smoothly, according to Hans. The fact that traditional asphalt has also been applied here gives Latexfalt specialists the opportunity to identify any differences. However, there are none as yet, according to the photo elsewhere on this page. "We will continue to monitor the test section and will use the findings to make the binder better and better," concludes Hans.