Materials

Research reveals that demand for asphalt has slipped in the UK. This comes after good sales of asphalt in the UK during 2015 and on the back of two years of market growth. The latest figures suggest that the asphalt market could fall by 3% in 2016, after recovering by nearly 20% in the previous two years. These are some of the conclusions of BDS Marketing’s annual report on the sector that has just been published, called ‘Estimated outputs of asphalt plants in Great Britain’. Commenting on the report,

John Richardson, Colas’ head of technical development for UK and the Isle of Man, has received a prestigious award from the Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). The society’s Construction Materials Group presented Richardson with the George Bessey Award at its annual AGM, only the third time the award has been given since its inception in 2007.

From lightening tunnels to keeping racing cars on tracks to preventing ice from forming, bitumen technology is helping roads do more - Kristina Smith reports If you think bitumen is just bitumen, useful for sticking lumps of aggregate together, it’s time to think again. The ever-widening and ever-more-sophisticated range of technologies and additives available means that we can ask our road surfaces to do more than ever.

Estonia is developing plans to use recycled shale ash in road construction. Energy firm Eesti Energia is working on developing technical standards for the use of shale oil ash in road building. The firm expects to take 12 months to develop the necessary standards, with the use of the material due to commence in 2017. Eesti Energia claims that shale ash offers excellent binding properties, which suits its use in road building. A number of test projects have been carried out for Eesti Energia using the materi

Improved bitumen storage is claimed for the new SBM-15 tank from GlobeCore. The firm has upgraded its existing design of modified bitumen storage tank to increase capacity, efficiency and versatility. A key feature is the new structural design with its downwards cone-shaped bottom. This is said to solve the problem of heat loss in the lower part of the tank while a minimum 200mm of heat insulation ensures it is thermodynamically efficient. The new model is 500mm shorter, allowing a customer to transport

In the Middle East nation Qatar, a large-scale highway project is underway that will make significant improvements for vehicle capacity and cut journey times for drivers. The new route will also improve transport connections between Qatar’s ports and neighbouring Saudi Arabia. At the same time, the new highway will carry much of the heavy vehicle traffic travelling between the two countries.