Asphalt packets, asphalt mixture systems and related methods
AssigneeNiTech Corporation
InventorSteve A. Fox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A non-tacky asphalt packet in which the surface is coated with a continuous layer of polymer compatible with the asphalt, and which has a surface-to-volume ratio which in the presence of heat makes the asphalt melt in an adequately short time such that when n dispersed in an aggregate mixture allows the asphalt to melt and coat the aggregate uniformly as the aggregate reaches the maximum mix temperature, and prior to degradation of the asphalt due to excessive temperature.
Claims20
A non-tacky asphalt packet comprising:
- a volume of asphalt;
- a continuous polymer film outer coating encapsulating the volume of the asphalt, the polymer film outer coating being non-tacky and flexible at ambient temperatures;
- the polymer film outer coating being compatible with the asphalt such that when the asphalt packet is melted and mixed with the polymer film outer coating of the asphalt packet, an asphalt composite is formed, and
- the asphalt packet comprising the polymer film outer coating and the volume of asphalt having a surface-to-volume ratio that permits the melting of the polymer film outer coating and the asphalt when heated above a melting point of the asphalt such that the polymer film outer coating and asphalt liquefy without degradation of the asphalt composite during a liquefaction process, wherein the surface-to-volume ratio of the asphalt packet is at least about 10.
An asphalt packet having a non-tacky outer surface that can be stored and used with other asphalt packets in a plurality, the asphalt packet comprising:
- at least 85% by weight of virgin asphalt that comprises an inner volume;
- a polymer film outer coating that encapsulates the volume of the asphalt, the polymer film outer coating being non-tacky at ambient temperatures that permits stacking of a plurality of asphalt packets without causing the packets to agglomerate,
- the polymer film outer coating and the volume of asphalt having size and shape to create a surface-to-volume ratio that permits the complete melting of the polymer film outer coating and the asphalt into a liquid form of an asphalt composite when heated to between about 280° F. and about 320° F. before the asphalt composite begins to degrade, wherein the surface-to-volume ratio of the asphalt packet is at least about 10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.