Method and composition for reinforcing asphalt cement concrete
AssigneeSurface Tech LLC
InventorsTracy H. Lang, Joseph A. Sturtevant
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Reinforcing fibers, such as aromatic polyamide (“aramid”) fibers, are treated by coating with or embedding in a binder such as a Fischer-Tropsch wax. The treated fibers are divided into suitably-sized units, which are added to bitumen, aggregate and other ingredients in an asphalt cement concrete mix. The units shed fibers into the mix during the manufacturing process so that the fibers are distributed fairly evenly throughout the asphalt mixture. The binder may also impart beneficial qualities to the finished asphalt concrete.
Claims14
A method of producing reinforced asphalt pavement, comprising:
- treating a plurality of roughly parallel reinforcing fibers with a binding agent to produce a treated reinforcing fiber bundle;
- severing the treated reinforcing fiber bundle to produce a plurality of treated reinforcing fiber bundle segments, the fibers of each segment being roughly parallel with each other and a length of each treated reinforcing fiber bundle segment between about 8 mm and about 100 mm;
- introducing the treated reinforcing fiber bundle segments into an asphalt cement concrete mixture;
- depositing the asphalt cement concrete mixture onto a surface;
- and
- compacting the asphalt cement concrete mixture to form a reinforced asphalt pavement.
A method of producing reinforced asphalt cement concrete, comprising:
- treating a continuous length of multifilament aramid fiber yarn with a wax binder produce a continuous length of treated multifilament aramid fiber yarn;
- severing the continuous length of treated multifilament aramid fiber yarn to produce treated yarn segments of a roughly uniform length between about 8 mm and about 100 mm;
- metering the treated yarn segments into a warm asphalt cement concrete mixture during mixing thereof;
- and
- paving a surface with the asphalt cement concrete mixture.
A method of manufacturing improved asphalt cement concrete mix, comprising:
- treating an aramid fiber yarn longer than 100 mm with a wax binder;
- severing the treated aramid fiber yarn into a plurality of treated fiber segments of about 20 mm in length;
- heating and mixing aggregate particles with a viscous petroleum binder agent to create an asphalt cement concrete mixture;
- and
- introducing the treated fiber segments into the asphalt cement concrete mixture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.