The Russian ECO Group used the graphene carbon nanotube product TUBALL produced by OCSiAl for the modification of paving asphalt concrete and successfully conducted actual road tests. The actual road test was authorized by the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation. The road paved with carbon nanotubes is a section of the M-4 Don Federal Highway.
Alexander Zimnyakov, vice president of OCSiAl, said: "Graphene carbon nanotubes can form a reinforced network in asphalt concrete, thereby improving the physical properties of asphalt concrete materials including rut resistance, ring and ball softening point, compressive strength and fatigue life. And mechanical properties. This is especially important for roads that need to withstand heavy traffic pressure at high temperatures. "
Carbon nanotubes are mixed into the asphalt by viscous additives, and then modified asphalt is used for road construction concrete. Even if the carbon nanotubes have a very low content of 0.025% -0.035% in the modified asphalt, the amount of modified asphalt in the asphalt concrete does not exceed 6%, but the performance has been greatly improved. The test structure shows that the softening temperature of the modified asphalt is increased by 10 ° C, and the viscosity is increased by more than twice. The resistance to rutting of the modified asphalt concrete has been increased by 67%, and the fatigue crack resistance has been increased by 67.5%.
In the next step, the promotion of the technology throughout Russia will begin with the design of a carbon nanotube to strengthen the road transportation network.
Alexander Greiz, general manager of the ECO Group, said: "The expert team of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation has fully recognized the new modified asphalt concrete products of the ECO Group. It has approved its application in road construction and is considering promotion."
Graphene carbon nanotubes (ie single-walled carbon nanotubes) have been widely used as high-strength and light-weight materials in multiple material systems. Its ability to modify asphalt concrete paving materials is currently being studied by a team of scientists worldwide . The case reported in this article is the first actual road test of this material.