A new report by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) presents the outcome from a desk study of published information on the use of Rubberised Asphalt worldwide over the last 25 years.

Communication with relevant industry experts led to identification and provision of information on the practical issues associated with Rubberised Asphalt (RA) in their countries. The report therefore provides a body of knowledge of use to clients and suppliers considering the use of RA in the UK. More specific information on the properties of RA for use in the UK is given in the WRAP Laboratory report "Rubberised Asphalt Testing to UK Standards".

Rubber in asphalt has been in use in the USA since at least the early 1960s by the Arizona Department of Transport. Since then the material has been used more widely in four states in the US and elsewhere, including South Africa, Europe and Australasia. There are two main processes of using rubber in asphalt, i.e. the dry and the wet process; this study focuses upon the use of rubber in asphalt by the wet process, i.e. to produce rubberised bitumen. Rubberised bitumen can be used in four different areas of applications: spray seal, stress alleviating membrane, stress alleviating membrane interlayer and asphalt mixture. The latter (rubberised asphalt mixture) is discussed in more detail in this report, specifically in cases where rubber has been added to bituminous binder (bitumen) at a rate of at least 15 percent by weight of the total binder.

The full "Review of the Use of Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt Worldwide" can be downloaded under wrap.org.uk.