Limited natural resources and landfill space, as well as increasing amounts of ash produced

from incineration of bio fuel and municipal solid waste, have created a demand for useful
applications of ash, of which road construction is one application The environmental impact of
the ash layer was evaluated from soil solutions obtained by centrifugation of soil samples taken
on four occasions during 2001–2003. Soil samples were taken in the ash layer, below the ash
layer at two depths in the road and in the ditch. In the soil solutions, pH, conductivity, dissolved
organic carbon (DOC) and the total concentration of cations (metals) and anions were
determined. Two years after the application of the ash layers in the test road, the concentrations
in the ash layer of K, SO4, Zn, and Hg had increased significantly while the concentration of Se,
Mo and Cd had decreased significantly. Below the ash layer in the road an initial increase of pH
was observed and the concentrations of K, SO4, Se, Mo and Cd increased significantly, while
the concentrations of Cu and Hg decreased significantly in the road and also in the ditch. Cd
was the element showing a potential risk of contamination of the groundwater. The
concentrations of Ca in the ash layer indicated an ongoing hardening, which is important for the
leaching rate and the strength of the road construction.

Asphalt
Asphalt is a sticky, black, liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is used in road construction as the
glue or binder to make asphalt concrete. The bitumen binder allows the concrete to sustain significant
plastic deformation. Asphalt is either a hot mix, warm mix, or cold mix. The mixes are are applied at
temperatures from 200 degrees Fahrenheit to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

The Chemistry Behind Road Construction

Concrete
Concrete is used a lot for road construction. It is created using a mix of Portland cement, coarse
aggregate, sand, and water. The water allows the mix to combine molecularly in a chemical reaction
called hydration. There are a lot of various admixtures added to increase workability, mitigate harmful
reactions, and other beneficial purposes.
Bio Fuel Ash
Ash is used a lot in road construction now because of limiting natural resources and increasing amounts
of ash produced. Soil samples were taken in the ash layer, below the ash layer at two depths in the road
and in the ditch. Two years after the application of the ash layers in the test road, the concentrations in the
ash layer of K, SO4, Zn, and Hg had increased while the concentration of Se, Mo and Cd had decreased.

The roadways are the lifeline of our country and the development of road infrastructure has played a
very important role in faster development of the Indian economy and so has been the role of
FAIRMATE to contribute its mite.

FAIRMATE was one of the initial entrants into this development of National infrastructure by making
Concrete roads joining the Golden quadrilateral. FAIRMATE was able to bag its first order of admixture
from Shapporji Pallonji Co. Ltd. In the year 1998 for the coveted project Mumbai – Pune Expressway.

Since then FAIRMATE has provided its services to major contractors in the last two decades with
supply of various products into the Highway concrete road development projects. The major products
that go into a Concrete road are: Admixtures, Polysulphide sealants, Curing Compounds, Shuttering
oils, Protective coatings, Industrial flooring, Concrete repairs, Prepacked concrete & mortar,
Engineering Grouts, Waterproofing systems & Highway Repairs. The company has been manufacturing
the complete range of construction chemicals and has got wide range of products in its bouquet to
offer for different projects.
The products for Concrete road projects are:

Admixtures

FAIRMATE has got a range of chloride free admixtures which go into the RCC structures. The
admixtures used in road projects are Slump retainers, Retarders or high range water reducing
plasticizers. The company brings in the latest technology of the European world with help of its tie up
with M/s. R.B.P. Ltd., U.K. and has also introduced the 4th generation PC based admixtures which give
slump retention to the concrete without affecting the setting time of the concrete with the brand name
FAIRFLO. FAIRMATE supplied its admixture range to major NHAI projects like NH 25 4-lane
configuration in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, in Rajasthan for NH76, Gujarat East West corridor
project on NH8B, Mumbai – Pune Express way on NH4 etc. It has a team of dedicated technical
professionals who help the client to develop a tailor made product as per the needs of the site and site
conditions and has successfully supplied thousands of tons of admixtures to various sites across the
country to some of the known names in the construction world like Shapoorji Pallonji Co. Ltd.,
Gammon India Ltd, Simplex Infrastructures Ltd, Punj Lloyd Ltd, ITD Cementation Ltd, Nagarjuna
Construction, Hindustan Construction, Soma Engineering, IRB, Oriental Structure of India with
prestigious consultants like CES, Span Consultants, International consultants, Roughton International,
Stanely - Rites, Mahim Tura Consultants and others.

Sealants

All concrete roads have got expansion and construction joints and its very important to treat these
joints properly to ensure long life of the concrete road. NHAI has prescribed in its most specifications
the use of Polysulphide sealant for these joints confirming to BS 5212 standards. FAIRMATE
manufactures the sealant confirming to the said standards with the brand name FAIRSEAL. The
company has got its product approved from government laboratories and have been supplying the
product to various Road Projects accross the nation.

Curing Compounds

Concrete curing is an important aspect to ensure a good quality concrete. Curing is the process of
keeping concrete under a specific environmental condition until hydration is relatively complete.
Because the cement used in concrete requires time to fully hydrate before it acquires strength and
hardness, concrete must be cured once it has been placed. In road projects curing with water is
relatively difficult hence various curing compounds are being used for concrete curing. FAIRMATE
offers a wide range of curing compounds like chemical curing compounds, wax based curing
compounds, white pigment curing compounds & resin alumina based curing compounds with the brand
name FAIRCURE and has supplied its products to various Road Projects across the nation confirming to
ASTM standards.

Protective Coatings

Fairmate has on offer anticarbonation protective coatings for over head structures like flyovers and
bridges. These coatings are a unique combination of anticarbonation, elastomeric and waterproofing
properties. FAIRMATE has served the industry by providing these coatings to major flyovers of Mumbai
and Hyderabad. Also the coatings have been recommended by MSRDC the governing body of
Maharashtra road development. The company has also on offer various protective coatings for under
the soil concrete structures to protect it from chlorides and sulphates in the sub soil The under the soil
protective coatings are coal tar based, epoxy based and combination of coal tar + epoxy.

FAIRMATE has been growing in terms of clients, products offered and geographical coverage. The
company has also started its international operations in U.A.E. by establishing its manufacturing base
there. It is an Indian company with an International outlook and has maintained its corporate theme
of "WE ARE DIFFERENT" by giving that value for money to its clients in terms of quality, service and
technical upgradation.

Soil stabilization in road construction is a common practice in the construction of roads, whether they are
highways, major or local roads, is conditioned by structured layers capable of carrying certain traffic loads.
Very important layer is foundation. If foundation deforms, the upper layers will soon be subject of deformation
as well. Most roads’ erosion and sedimentation problems originate from unstable base. These erosion problems
lead further to ruts, pumps and potholes that can damage vehicles.
Highly implemented method for soil stabilization in road construction today is chemical stabilization.
Chemical stabilization has been utilized for many centuries. The Romans were one of the first to implement
these stabilization processes. Weak soils were mixed with pozzolana (volcanic ash containing alumina and
silica) and lime to improve bearing capacity. The modern-day treatment of soils started in the 1950s in the US
where weak clays were treated with hydrated lime, which is even nowadays one of commonly used types of
soil stabilization in road construction.
The soil type and mineralogy determine the binder that will be utilized. If significant quantities of clay and silt
are present, the proper stabilizing agents are hydrated lime, quicklime or a combination of lime and Portland
cement. If a much coarser material is present, additives such as Portland cement, fly ash and cement kiln dust
are more suitable.
Hydraulic binders are spread directly onto the surface of the soil. Commonly, they are in form of a dry powder.
If dust generation is also an issue, hydraulic binders can be distributed in a slurry form. After spreading of
stabilizing agents, mixing and pulverization follow. Compaction is needed immediately after mixing while
water has still not evaporated from the treated soil. Once compacted, it is necessary to grade the treated layer to
ensure proper thickness and smoothness.
When a binder is mixed with a soil in the presence of water, the chemical reactions that occur are cation
exchange, agglomeration and pozzolanic reaction. Cation exchange is carried out by replacement of
exchangeable cations of in situ soil by higher valiancy calcium ions of lime. Agglomeration of host soil
particles leads to the larger effective grain sizes. Pozzolanic reaction results in cementitious materials, usually
calcium silicate hydrate and calcium aluminate hydrate gels. These kinds of processes of soil stabilization in
road construction are very time dependant and can continue over a long period of time.
Numerous processes are required within common chemical soil stabilization in road construction. This means
high costs, high consumption of energy, high labour and machinery demand, etc. Far less demanding soil
stabilization in road construction is offered by Global Road Technologies. GRT stabilizing agents are
biopolymer-based products which can be implemented in wide range of subgrades: sand, gravel, silt, bitumen,
clay, etc. Further, these products are successfully applied under extreme cold, hot, wet or dry conditions. Soil
stabilization in road construction performed by GRT technology is quick, enabling road usage within a few
hours of GRT products being applied.
Unlike traditional binders, GRT products are non-toxic to environment. Machines for soil stabilization
processes are utilised for much less time, resulting in fewer emissions and lower costs over the length of
project. Global Road Technology roads are more robust, resilient and flexible than conventional roads. They
accommodate movement, moisture and temperature that would crack other surfaces. Longer lasting results of
soil stabilization in road construction have positive influence on environment, saving energy, materials and
equipment aimed for maintenance and re-construction.
For more information on Global Road Technology or soil stabilization in road construction please go
to:https://globalroadtechnology.com/contact-grt/
How Global Road Technology Dust Control and Soil Stabilization Makes Difference
Humanity has been building roads for thousands of years; in a very real sense, they tie communities together
with one another as well as the outside world. Roads function as the lifelines of villages, towns, communities,
regions, and countries across the face of the globe, letting commerce flow in and out, bringing goods and
services to people wherever they may live and facilitating travel.
Consequently, the art of road construction has been along nearly as long as civilization has. However, it is
only in recently years that technological advances in chemistry and other sciences have enabled the
development of dust control and soil stabilization products that have the potential to revolutionize the road
construction industry.
Global Road Technology is at the forefront of research, development, and application of these new
technologies and methods. Here are three reasons their dust control and soil stabilization technology sets them
apart from any other road construction methodology:
 No Invasive Quarrying and Easier Logistics – As Global Road Technology products rely on environmentally friendly
chemical methods to provide soil stabilization and dust control, they do not need much if any outside material to be
quarried to build the roads. This means there will be little to no invasive mining or quarrying done in the area, and the
logistics of the project are simplified as well as there is substantially less material to move.
 Lowered Environmental Impact – The dust control and soil stabilization products of Global Road Technology result in
hugely lowered environmental impact compared to traditional road construction methods. Fewer emissions from trucks
moving material, less fresh water used during construction, and construction project dust kept under control result in
cleaner air and water around construction sites.
 Less Bothersome to People & Communities – Another major benefit of road building using Global Road Technology and
their environmentally friendly chemical soil stabilization and dust control products is that the building process is
 significantly less bothersome to people and communities. This should result in a drastically lowered level of resident
complaints, as there is less traffic and disruption to the community during the road construction project.
Taken together, the various products and techniques of Global Road Technology have the potential to
completely revolutionize the road building process. They permit construction in hostile areas inhospitable to
traditional construction, impact the environment and communities less than regular building methods, and are
an excellent choice for any municipality or organization looking to build high quality infrastructure at a
reasonable cost and employ local people with-in the community.

Plastic Wastes used in process:

The following types of waste plastic can be used in the construction of rural roads:

 Films ( Carry Bags, Cups) thickness up to 60micron (PE, PP and PS)

 Hard foams (PS) any thickness
 Soft Foams (PE and PP) any thickness.
 Laminated Plastics thickness up to 60 micron (Aluminum coated also) packing materials
used for biscuits, chocolates, etc.,
 Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) sheets or Flux sheets should not be used in any case.

Process Step 1:
Plastics waste
(bags,cups,thermo
cole) made out of
PE,PP and PS cut
into a size
between 2.36mm
and 4.75mm using
shredding
machine, (PVC
waste should be
eliminated).
Process Step 2
a:
The aggregate
mix is heated to
165°c (as per the
HRS specification)
and transferred to
mixing chamber.

Process Step 2
b:
Simillarly the bitumen is to be heated upto a maximum of 160°c (HRS Specification) to have
good binding and to preovent weak bonding. (Monitoring the temperature is very important).

Process Step 3:
At the mixing
chamber, the
shredded plastics
waste is to be
added. It get
coated uniformly
over the aggregate
within 30 to 60
seconds, giving an
oily look.
Process Step
4:
The plastics
waste coated
aggregate is mixed
with got bitumen
and the resulted
mix is used for
road construction.
The road laying
temperature is
between 110°c to 120°c. The roller used is 8-ton capacity.

Overall Process:
Characteristics of the process:
 Easy process without any new machinery
 Simple process without any industry involvement
 In situ process
  Use of lesser % of bitumen and thus savings on bitumen resource
 Use of plastics waste for a safe and eco-friendly process
 Both Mini Hot Mix Pland and Central Mixing Plant can be used
 Only aggregate is polymer coated and bitumen is not modified
 Use of 60/70 and 80/90 bitumen is possible
 No evolution of any toxic gases like dioxin
 Fly ash can also be used to give a better performance

Bio fuel ash in a road construction: impact on soil solution

chemistry.
Thurdin RT1, van Hees PA, Bylund D, Lundström US.
Author information
Abstract
Limited natural resources and landfill space, as well as increasing amounts of ash produced from
incineration of bio fuel and municipal solid waste, have created a demand for useful applications of ash,
of which road construction is one application. Along national road 90, situated about 20 km west of
Sollefteå in the middle of Sweden, an experiment road was constructed with a 40 cm bio fuel ash layer.
The environmental impact of the ash layer was evaluated from soil solutions obtained by centrifugation of
soil samples taken on four occasions during 2001-2003. Soil samples were taken in the ash layer, below
the ash layer at two depths in the road and in the ditch. In the soil solutions, pH, conductivity, dissolved
organic carbon (DOC) and the total concentration of cations (metals) and anions were determined. Two
years after the application of the ash layers in the test road, the concentrations in the ash layer of K, SO4,
Zn, and Hg had increased significantly while the concentration of Se, Mo and Cd had decreased
significantly. Below the ash layer in the road an initial increase of pH was observed and the
concentrations of K, SO4, Se, Mo and Cd increased significantly, while the concentrations of Cu and Hg
decreased significantly in the road and also in the ditch. Cd was the element showing a potential risk of
contamination of the groundwater. The concentrations of Ca in the ash layer indicated an ongoing
hardening, which is important for the leaching rate and the strength of the road construction.
Tests for construction and road engineering
Test package Purpose
In-field tests Our field staff can tell a lot about the
mechanical properties of soil from classic
soil surveys, soil morphology (the study of
form) or field pedology (the study of soils in
their natural environment). For example,
the likelihood of acid sulphate soils, the
likely drainage properties, and whether the
soils are sodic
Acid sulphate Rapid screening of soils for potential acid
soil screening sulphate activity, pH and whether it drops in
hydrogen peroxide, colour, texture and
sulphide evolution
Soil texture Rapid screening of potentially
suitable/unsuitable materials
Emerson Rapid screening for dispersive soils
aggregate
class
Soil structure Used to determine whether a soil may be
saline or sodic
Soil colour This apparently simple property of soils is
related to drainage, aeration and soil
reactivity
Soil inclusions The presence, colour and hardness of
nodules and stone-like inclusions of
manganese and iron in soil are good
indicators of drainage and waterlogging
problems
pH, salinity, These identify problems of acidity,
cation alkalinity, salinity and clay dispersion
exchange (sodicity) and are used to calculate lime
ratios and gypsum requirements
Corrosivity – Used to identify and quantify acidity, salt
soil and and sulphate hazards to concrete
concrete structures
Corrosion – Used to identify and quantify acidity, salt
soil and steel and electrolysis corrosion hazards to steel
and metal structures such as pilings and
reinforcing
Corrosion – Used to identify and quantify acidity, salt
soil, steel and and electrolysis corrosion hazards to steel
concrete and metal structures from a water source
Particle size Used to identify the suitability of well-
analysis AS graded materials for road and other
1289 basement construction
Linear Used to identify reactive (shrink–swell) clay
shrinkage materials
Hydraulic Used to identify and quantify suitable
conductivity materials for impermeable liners and
ASTM F 1815- drainage layers
97
sPOCAS Used to identify and quantify acid sulphate
(suspension potential and lime neutralisation
peroxide requirement
oxidation
combined
acidity and
sulphur)
RTA lime Used to quantify the amount of lime needed
requirement to stabilise soil physically to RTA method
T143
Net acid Used to identify the sulphide risk posed by
generation some geologies (acid-generating rock)
capacity (NAG)

Colas one of the world leaders in road construction

Green Chemistry

As part of the Green Chemistry project, Colas is focusing on providing innovative solutions with even greater
respect for both people and the environment.

Colas is endeavoring in particular to substitute the raw materials it currently uses with resources from the
circular economy, i.e., renewable or recycled materials.

Colas’ challenge is to anticipate the rules and regulations that will change the face of Industries in the coming
years, in addition to the Group’s long-standing goal to create added-value in customer offering.

This includes wattway , a solar powered road which uses solar energy to power the street lights and its
surrounding areas .
What is a Salt? To a rough approximation, a chemical that qualifies as a salt
involves a bond between an atom from the left side of the periodic table with an atom
from the right side of the periodic table. Such a bond is termed an “ionic” bond.

Salts in Road Salt. In addition to NaCl, road salt formulations usually contain other
chloride salts such as magnesium, calcium, and potassium chloride. Sodium acetate and
calcium magnesium acetate may also be added to the mix, as well as some basic salts
such as calcium hydroxide to help counter corrosiveness.
How Do Salts Melt Ice? The difference between frozen water (ice) and liquid water is
how close the individual water molecules stick together. When water is very cold, the
molecules don’t have enough energy to bounce around much, and so they just stay
huddled up next to each other in a solid ice crystal. When energy is added in the form of
heat, the molecules become bouncier and space out quite a bit, with the freedom to
fluidly move around each other as they please.

Like most salts, the salts in a road de-icer are highly soluble in water. When these salts
come in contact with ice, they try to dissolve. The ions (charged atoms) from the salt
squeeze in between the water molecules and push them apart, melting the ice into a
liquid. More technically, this phenomenon is called freezing point depression.
OK, So Where Does the Color Come From? Google knows a lot of things, but it
doesn’t seem to know exactly what gives sidewalk salts the blue or yellow colors that I
typically see. The best I can find is that a “color indicator” is commonly added to brands
of blue-colored salt like Streamline’s Blue Heat Ice Melt.
However, a 2004 patent suggests that phenolphthalein can be used as a reddish dye for
road de-icers. Phenolphthalein is an organic molecule that serves as an acid-base
indicator. At a basic pH, it’s colored reddish, but at a more neutral or acidic pH it has no
color. Because road salts are usually somewhat basic (to counter corrosiveness),
phenolphthalein would be colored red in the road salt formulation, but would
“disappear” as the dissolving salt gets diluted or mixed with acids in the environment.

The blue or green salts that I usually see on the sidewalk could contain a similar acid-
base indicator, like thymolphthalein.
In conclusion, sidewalk salt is actually pretty complicated. I think I prefer the simplicity
and comfort of a warmer climate.