Recycled tires (on pavements)
Introduction
Rubberized asphalt concrete (RAC) also known as rubberized asphalt[1] or rubberized asphalt is a type of material that consists of asphalt concrete mixed with tire dust. Tire dust is extracted from discarded tires, thus preventing them from taking up space in "Landfill (garbage)" landfills, or from being recycled as tire-derived fuel in power plants or recycled into rubber products. Rubber asphalt is the largest market for recycled rubber in the United States, consuming 100,000 tons of rubber annually, or approximately 12 million tires annually.[2].
The use of rubber asphalt as a pavement material began in Phoenix, Arizona in certain areas of the city's metropolitan highways in the 1960s because its high durability was proven.[3] Since then it has generated a lot of interest because it was also proven to reduce the noise made by traffic rolling.
Use in the United States
In 2003, the Arizona Department of Transportation began a study to see if laying rubberized asphalt could make noise barriers unnecessary. After a year of research, it was shown that rubber asphalt could reduce up to 12 decibels, with an average reduction of 7 to 9 decibels.[4] Arizona has thus become the leader in the use of rubber asphalt and several Southern states have begun to use it, such as California, Florida, Texas, South Carolina, Nevada and New Mexico. In the northern states, their durability in cold conditions is beginning to be studied.
Use in Europe
Sections with this type of asphalt have been tested at the Spa-Francorchamps Circuit in Belgium.
In Spain[5] the first studies began in 1994, but it was not until 2002 when construction began regularly. In fact, the Ministry of Development together with the Ministry of the Environment published a guide in May 2007.[6].
References
- [1] ↑ David22. «Transformar neumáticos usados en asfalto goma». unlugarmejor.com.: https://diseñosostenible.unlugarmejor.com/ciclo/transformar-neumaticos-usados-en-componentes-para-asfalto
- [2] ↑ US Environmental Protection Agency. «Management of Scrap Tires». Archivado desde el original el 16 de mayo de 2008.: https://web.archive.org/web/20080516053533/http://www.epa.gov/garbage/tires/ground.htm
- [3] ↑ Arizona Department of Transportation. «What is Rubberized Asphalt?». Archivado desde el original el 13 de abril de 2012. Consultado el 2 de mayo de 2012.: https://web.archive.org/web/20120413015017/http://www.azdot.gov/quietroads/what_is_rubberized_asphalt.asp
- [4] ↑ «Silence Please». Associate Construction Publications. Archivado desde el original el 19 de marzo de 2006.: https://web.archive.org/web/20060319143533/http://www.acppubs.com/article/CA6279032.html
- [5] ↑ Dirección General de Tráfico de España. «Carreteras de Goma». Archivado desde el original el 4 de abril de 2010.: https://web.archive.org/web/20100404233939/http://www.dgt.es/revista/num181/pdf/num181-2006-carretera.pdf
- [6] ↑ Ministerio de Fomento/Ministerio de Medio Ambiente de España. «Manual de empleo de caucho de NFU para mezclas bituminosas.». Archivado desde el original el 5 de abril de 2015. Consultado el 9 de marzo de 2015.