Method of producing a composite material using a mixing system

A method of paving a defined area with a composite material to form a paved structure within the defined area, the composite material comprising an aggregate and a reaction product of a two-component polymeric binder composition comprising a first component and a second component, the method employing a mixing system comprising an aggregate vessel comprising the aggregate, a first vessel comprising the first component, a second vessel comprising the second component, and a mixing apparatus comprising:

• a mixer in fluid communication with the first vessel and the second vessel;
• a first pump in fluid communication with the first vessels;
• and a second pump in fluid communication with the second vessel, wherein each of the pumps is also in fluid communication with the mixer;
• a housing defining a channel in communication with the aggregate vessel and the mixer;
• a conveyer disposed between the aggregate vessel and the mixing apparatus;
• a controller in communication with the conveyer and the pumps;
• and
• an auger rotatably disposed within the channel;
• the method comprising:
• (i) transporting the first and second components from the first and second vessels into the mixer;
• (ii) mixing the first and second components independent of the aggregate to obtain the reaction product of the two-component polymeric binder composition;
• (iii) transporting the aggregate from the aggregate vessel into the channel at a delivery rate with the conveyor;
• (iv) transferring the reaction product of the two-component polymeric binder composition from the mixer to the channel;
• (v) operating the pumps with the controller to control an application rate of the two-component polymeric binder composition based on the delivery rate of the aggregate transported into the channel;
• (vi) contacting the reaction product of the two-component polymeric binder composition with the aggregate within the channel at the application rate to obtain the composite material;
• (vii) rotating the auger to mix the composite material;
• (viii) dispensing the composite material from the channel;
• and
• (ix) curing the composite material to form the paved structure.

A method of producing a composite material, the composite material comprising an aggregate and a reaction product of a two-component polymeric binder composition comprising an isocyanate and a polyol wherein the polyol is in the binder composition in an amount of from about 30 to about 120 parts by weight based on 100 parts by pre-reaction weight of all components in the binder composition except the isocyanate component and wherein the reaction product is the reaction product of the isocyanate and polyol, the method employing a mixing system comprising an aggregate vessel comprising the aggregate, a first vessel comprising the first component, a second vessel comprising the second component, and a mixing apparatus comprising a mixer and an auger rotatably disposed within a channel, wherein the mixing apparatus is in communication with the aggregate vessel, the first vessel, and the second vessel, the method comprising:

• (a) delivering the aggregate into the channel of the mixing apparatus at a delivery rate;
• (b) delivering the first and second components into the mixer of the mixing apparatus;
• (c) mixing the first and second components in the mixer of the mixing apparatus independent of the aggregate to obtain the reaction product of the two-component polymeric binder composition;
• and
• (d) contacting the reaction product of the two-component polymeric binder composition with the aggregate, such that the aggregate directly contacts the reaction product, within the channel of the mixing apparatus at an application rate to obtain the composite material.