Roads & Bridges, February 2013
Highly Motivated - Use of binder allows crews to do more with less asphalt

Recently research by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) indicates the use of highly polymer-modified asphalt binder (HiMA) in mix design can reduce pavement thickness requirements while matching or exceeding the cracking and rutting resistance of significantly thicker non-HiMA mixes.

Findings from the 2009-11 research cycle at NCAT’s Pavement Test Track in Opelika, Ala. show a sponsored pavement section incorporating HiMA binder experienced less than one-third the wheel-path rut depth of the track’s control section, which is 20% thicker...

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National Center for Asphalt Technology, February 2013
Field and Laboratory Study of High-polymer Mixtures at The NCAT Test Track

In 2009, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. began sponsorship of a full-scale test section at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track featuring their newly developed highly polymer modified (HPM) asphalt. The HPM mixtures were designed with 7.5% styrenebutadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer to have much improved fatigue and rutting resistance characteristics over conventional materials. As documented in an earlier report (Timm et al., 2012), four-point bending beam fatigue testing on mixtures with these binders has shown well over an order of magnitude increase in fatigue life (van de Ven et al., 2007; Molenaar et al., 2008; Kluttz et al., 2009).

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National Center for Asphalt Technology - Interim, December 2012
Field and Laboratory Study of High-polymer Mixtures at The NCAT Test Track

In 2009, Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. began sponsorship of a full-scale test section at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) Test Track featuring their newly developed highly polymer modified (HPM) asphalt. The HPM mixtures were designed with 7.5% styrenebutadiene-styrene (SBS) polymer to have much improved fatigue and rutting resistance characteristics over conventional materials. As documented in an earlier report (Timm et al., 2012), four-point bending beam fatigue testing on mixtures with these binders has shown well over an order of magnitude increase in fatigue life (van de Ven et al., 2007; Molenaar et al., 2008; Kluttz et al., 2009).

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asphalt pro, july 2012
Oklahoma Anticipates I-40 Performance Gain with HiMA

Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) officials have high hopes for a mil-and-overlay of I-40 just west of Oklahoma City that incorporates highly modified asphalt (HiMA) pavement.  ODOT  is using  HiMA on I-40 in Caddo County in the first commercial application of this new technology.

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National Center for Asphalt Technology - Auburn, February 2012
Phase IV Ncat Pavement Test Track Findings

The NCAT Pavement Test Track, operated by the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT), has been a successful pavement research program for many reasons. First, the 1.7-mile oval test track is a unique accelerated pavement testing facility that brings together real-world pavement construction with live heavy trafficking for rapid testing and analysis of asphalt pavements. Since the test track is funded and managed as a cooperative project, highway agencies and industry sponsors have specific research objectives for their section(s) and shared objectives for the track as a whole. The results of the experiments are not abstract or ambiguous; they are easy to interpret, so findings are quickly put into practice by sponsors.

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Dixie Contractor, December 2010
Failed Test Track Section Repaired

A failed section of the Pavement Test Track at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) in Opelika, Alabama was recently repaired using Highly Modified Asphalt (HiMA) binder. East Alabama Paving of Opelika recently repaired a section of the 1.7-mile test track, an Auburn University facility known for its asphalt pavement
research and development, to correct severe pavement rutting and cracking. The paving contractor/ asphalt mix producer has a contract with NCAT to construct, and repair if necessary, the 200-ft. sections of experimental pavements under the current 2009-2012 research cycle.

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