Conference to examine rubber-modified asphalt

March 17, 2011

A major industry conference will convene later this year to work toward expanding the use of rubber-modified asphalt, a product made from scrap tires.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), Rubber Pavements Association, Rubber Division of the American Chemical Society, Asphalt Institute, National Asphalt Pavements Association and the National Center for Asphalt Technology are co-hosting the 5th National Conference on Rubber-Modified Asphalt on Nov. 3-4, 2011, at the Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol in Austin, Texas.

“We know that asphalt modified with scrap tire rubber is an improved material,” says Michael Blumenthal, RMA vice president. “Our goal is to bring together the major players that use or that can use this technology, and begin the process of identifying the issues that must be addressed so this market can be expanded.” 

The topics to be discussed will include an analysis of the life-cycle costs of rubber-modified asphalt, noise reduction attributed to rubber-modified asphalt, cold weather applications, performance grading, several state case studies, terminal blending, research on hybrid blends of rubber, an update on research recently concluded and rubber products used in highway and road maintenance.

Scrap tire rubber has been used to modify asphalt since the mid-1960s and is one of the larger end uses for ground tire rubber, says the RMA. Rubber-modified asphalt is used widely in Arizona, California, Texas and Florida and is now being used in colder climate states in the U.S. and across Canada.

For additional information on the conference and to register, go to www.rma.org

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