Gee Asphalt Systems, Inc. - Asphalt Preservation: Technical Information

ASPHALT PRESERVATION: TECHNICAL INFORMATION

CRACK SEALING | GSB SEALER BINDER | LINING, STRIPING, MARKINGS | MARKINGS REMOVAL

WHAT IS ASPHALT?

Asphalt - asfôlt, brownish-black binder material used commonly in making roads, roofing, and waterproofing. Chemically, it is a natural mixture of petroleum hydrocarbons. It varies in consistency from a solid to a semisolid, has great tenacity, melts when heated and is classified as a thermal plastic. Asphalt is obtained as a residue in the distillation or refining of petroleum. This is its most important commercial source. It occurs also in asphalt rock, a natural asphalt ore called Gilsonite, which when crushed is used as a preservation treatment and a modifier in road-building materials. Asphalt is also used in the manufacture of paints and varnishes, giving an intensely black color.

Paving grade asphalts however, are highly sophisticated binders that are residual from the refining of natural crude petroleum. Today, more than two thousand products are obtained from dividing crude oil; diesels, kerosene's, gasoline's (distillates) and asphalt binders are just a few examples. After distillates are removed, the asphalt cement component remains and is engineered to make quality Hot Mix Asphalt Pavements. Asphalt binder is strong cement, readily adhesive, waterproof, and very durable. Performance Grade binders (technical term for asphalt cement) are highly refined binders used for making modern asphalt pavement mixes.

While aggregate is relatively permanent, the asphalt binder can deteriorate rapidly from exposure to the environment. One of the greatest causes of pre-mature pavement failure according to reliable research is exposure to environmental forces. Despite this phenomenon, asphalt is the least expensive and most cost effective material for paving streets, roads, highways, parking lots and almost any other use that can be conjured up.

What does this mean to the general public? It means HMA Pavements are still a highly desirable choice as an easily maintainable and low cost pavement compared to the other pavement (concrete). When properly designed, constructed and preserved, a quality HMA pavement will remain in service and flexible for many years providing excellent ride and value to the public.

WHAT IS ASPHALT PAVEMENT?

An asphalt road is an engineered pavement structure built by incorporating refined asphalt binders and is called Hot Mix Asphalt. Hot Mix Asphalt is the mixing together of quality aggregates (rocks & sand) and asphalt cement (that's the hot, black, sticky stuff) to hold aggregates together. People commonly (mistakenly) use the words asphalt and tar interchangeably. However, they are not the same and it is important to understand the difference.

Tar (coal tar) is a by-product from the processing of coal. It is predominantly used in roofing applications, and mistakenly, seal coating products used on asphalt pavements. You'll note a strong creosote like odor coming from those operations. Coal tar binders have significantly different chemical makeup than asphalt binders and as a result the two materials should not be used in conjunction. (You will never find coal tar and asphalt roofing materials mixed together because chemically they clash. Why take a chance by using them on your expensive pavements?)

WHY INCORPORATE ASPHALT PRESERVATION TECHNOLOGY?

Light and medium oils within a new pavement which are vital to flexibility, quickly volatize causing hardening. From the moment construction activities are completed, sunlight, air, water, pollutants, and seasonal temperature changes combine to negatively act upon and dramatically increase the rate of asphalt oxidation and deterioration .

Effective preservation of the surface prevents, slows, or halts the aging process by preventing the elements from engaging in warfare within the pavement, while at the same time retaining oils and resins that are critical to pavement longevity. Choosing the most effective process can be a challenge with the constant barrage of information, miss-information, and opinions from arm chair experts that are freely passed around. It can be most bewildering to the layman, especially when the (asphalt) industry does not want you to know the truth.

GSB IS AESTHETICALLY PLEASING GSB UP-CLOSE CRAFTSMANSHIP IS ESSENTIAL	THE PROBLEM Paving and road experts generally agree that newer Superpave mix designs, coupled with sophisticated refining techniques has brought asphalt binder technology to the level that it is today. And that level is, harder stiffer mixes to prevent rutting and shoving from high traffic counts and truck loadings. Each day however, new ways are discovered and employed to further divide petroleum into ever more potent segments, all chemicals and products that did not exist previously. Today, petroleum is fractioned into over 2000 various chemicals. The removal of several of which have a negative overall impact on asphalt binders. Those removed that have the most negative impact on the aging process of asphalt binder are: anti-oxidants, epoxy cements, ultraviolet & infrared inhibitors. Even so, paving grade binders are designed to meet specifications for physical properties in engineered binder designs. These modern highly refined (read "fractioned") binders as a result experience more rapid oxidation and degradation, especially when compared to binders from just a few years ago. Economics drives this process. Refineries, like all businesses are trying to make a profit and they sell these new highly refined chemicals for higher profit than asphalt binders sell for. Many refineries in fact have completely eliminated production of asphalt. As time passes this situation is likely become more acute. With fewer tons of asphalt binder being produced, and demand that continues to rise, economics 101 says the cost of asphalt binders will also increase. Industry experts have no definitive answers to this dilemma, that is until now. Thankfully there is a simple, highly effective solution! THE SOLUTION Gilsonite is the solution! Gilsonite is 99.85% pure mineral asphalt found in two locations on earth, Vernal Utah, and Saudi Arabia. It is found in nature in deposits probably formed by the evaporation of the petroleum distillates. Gilsonite is pure asphalt and has not been subjected to the refining and fractioning processes of modern refining technology. Critical oils, resins, anti-oxidants, adhesives, anti-stripping agents and inhibitors therefore are intact, making Gilsonite one of the most powerful and environmentally resistant asphalt binder materials available today. Further, because Gilsonite is "petroleum asphalt" it is compatible with any type of asphalt surface or process, in any state, any climate, under any type traffic. Gilsonite can be incorporated into hot mix during manufacture to improve, stabilize, and strengthen the pavement, or applied after construction to the surface as a preservation treatment to seal in resiliency, block out father time and prolong the life of the pavement. All this at a fraction of the cost of alternatives.

LOOKING GOOD AT 32	33 YEAR-OLD PAVEMENT	SIMILARITIES EVOLVE OVER TIME

WHY GILSONITE & GSB?

Because all seal coats are not the same. While being one of the best preservation processes available today, "GSB" Gilsonite Sealer Binder, is also one of the least expensive having one of the lowest life cycle costs possible. GSB halts the aging process and keeps your asphalt pavement performing like new for many years - normally protecting asphalt more than twice as long as other processes. Unlike coal tar, chip seals, and slurry coatings, GSB actually penetrates into and becomes an integral part of the pavement. It's not just skin deep!
Currently there are two premium grade preservation products available, GSB-78 & GSB-88. Each is petroleum base and incorporate the Gilsonite resin. Both GSB products are totally compatible with all other asphalt binders. GSB penetrates and becomes part of the surface of asphalt, sealing and binding aggregates tightly together (like penetrating processes used to stain wood). Paving engineers should note that while Gilsonite toughens and stabilizes an asphalt surface it does not harden the binder within the pavement, rather it preserves the medium oils within and therefore pavement flexibility is preserved.

This characteristic causes GSB to improve the performance of asphalt pavements load carrying ability over time and places GSB in the forefront as a performance treatment for all pavement types including streets, roadways, highways, airport runways, and all commercial pavements. In fact GSB will also perform well on grooved runway surfaces.
GSB performance is not tied visual cues of friction wear or to volume of traffic. GSB can also be used to re-bind chip and slurry seals that are de-bonding or exhibit raveling. GSB products require simple preparations and cause minimal down time. Frequently GSB treated pavements are opened just hours after closure. The beauty is what GSB does for your pavement, and it's not just skin deep!

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN GSB-78 & GSB-88?

GSB-78 is a cutback (solvent borne) and is most frequently used in commercial applications. GSB-88 is an emulsion (water borne) most typically utilized in public sector projects like roads, highways, and airports. There are many applications however where crossover occurs and in most situations each provides the same outstanding and dependable penetrating, sealing, binding performance. GSB-78 and GSB-88 are high performance preservation treatments that consistently out perform asphalt coatings, fog seals, coal tar emulsions and coal tar rejuvenator applications.

WHEN SHOULD I USE GSB-78 OR GSB-88?

Both GSB-78 and GSB-88 are designed to perform under all traffic and weather extremes, from the freeze-thaw climates of the north, to the blistering heat of the south and west. Unlike other surface coatings, GSB-78 and GSB-88 will not "track" on tires or shoes. GSB-78 & GSB-88 can be successfully applied on any age pavements that are structurally sound. Engineers are increasingly choosing to apply GSB as a construction seal immediately following completion of paving and re-paving.

Applications are normally repeated on a continuing basis at four-to five-year intervals until the time when the pavement condition warrants a more comprehensive technique. You are going to have to wait for quite a while to replace your pavements because it will take many years for GSB treated asphalt to age. Gee asphalt has hundreds of pavements available for viewing that have had continuous GSB preservation applications from the beginning. Preserved pavement ages range from one season all the way up to 33 years. Inspections prove they're still going strong with years of service remaining. It is doubtful any contractor anywhere can demonstrate any product with a track record equal to GSB! Call for an appointment to take the tour!