Kazakhstan Road Research Institute (KazdorNII) is testing the technology of “warm asphalt” on the republican highways. This innovation is promising to expand the possibilities of road construction in the cold season, which is especially important for northern Kazakhstan.

According to the standards of road construction, the temperature of asphalt-concrete mixture at laying should be at least 125-130 degrees, and asphalt can be laid only when the air temperature is +5 degrees and above. However, scientists have developed a complex additive that allows the mixture to be made at 90 degrees and laid when the temperature is as low as -10 degrees. This solution is especially relevant for the northern regions of the country, where the construction season is limited to only 3-4 months.

The main concept of the development is to create a “warm asphalt concrete mixture”: special additives reduce the temperature threshold for preparation and laying of the material, while preserving all physical and mechanical properties of the pavement. The use of this mixture allows to significantly reduce energy consumption in the phases of preparation and compaction of asphalt, reducing costs and environmental impact.

The Institute's specialists also emphasize that the complex additive helps to improve adhesion between binders and mineral materials. This allows not only to reduce the temperature of preparation, but also to ensure high strength and wear resistance of the coating.

Laboratory tests by KazdorNII in Almaty confirmed that physical and mechanical properties of the warm asphalt-concrete mixture correspond to those of standard hot asphalt-concretes. Moreover, the new mixture demonstrates increased water resistance and retains strength at low temperatures, which makes it more resistant to harsh environmental conditions. The ability to lay the mix at 90 degrees without loss of compaction factor will be an important advantage for road works in cold weather.