Where the temperature drops below zero degrees the icy roads become dangerous.
The team from Koç University, Turkey has developed a road material (with a salt potassium formate mixed in a styrene-butadiene-styrene polymer) that delays the formation of ice. When tested in the lab, it “significantly” delayed ice formation when compared with a regular road surface and remain just as sturdy as unmodified bitumen. It was published in Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.
According to the American Chemical Society, the new composite was able to release de-icing salt over a period of two months, but has long lasting the effects on real roads. The salt-polymer composite spread out evenly through the asphalt, will be released in a sustained manner by the pressure of cars and trucks.
The new bitumen composite apart other innovations tried are embedding solar panels, recycled plastic and car recharging capabilities into the road surfaces of tomorrow.
Source: ScienceAlert
