Asphalt Rubber – a new concept for asphalt pavements in Poland

More and more roads in the US and Europe are built in the rubber asphalt
technology. The name of the rubber asphalt means bituminous mixtures modified with rubber
granulate Technology of bituminous mixtures modified with rubber granulate comes from the
United States, where it has been used for more than 30 years. BISEK Company, after several
years of cooperation with Wroclaw Technology University and Clemson University of South
Carolina (USA), introduced asphalt mixtures modified with rubber granulate into the
production and rubber asphalt roads are built in Poland since 2006.
During this six years many sections of new covers were performed in Poland, Czech
Republic and in Quebec ( Canada). Paper presents results of practical use of different mixes
(SMA, SAMI and Mastic Asphalt) on the base of rubber modified bitumen ( wet process )
with content of 14%- 16% of crumb rubber in bitumen. Pavements based on rubber-
modified asphalt are more resistant to cracking, have better adhesion at the interface
between the vehicle wheel and the surface, and at the same time they are quieter.
Innovative surfaces built with bituminous mixed with rubber have increased flexibility, roughness and durability of the top layer, do not get rut, and most important they have a significantly shorter braking distance.
Other advantages of asphalt rubber roads called “safe
routes” is high frost resistance, the ability of glazed frost fast removal, resistance to
environmental factors such as water and air and reduction of light reflection, thus directly
increase the level of safety in road traffic.