The present invention relates to an asphalt composition comprising asphalt or an asphalt mixture and to a silicon carbide-containing binder that can be heated by means of microwaves. The silicon carbide is present in the binder in particle form, the equivalent diameter of silicon carbide particles contained in the binder is less than 60 μm. The invention also relates to a method for producing and/or renovating road surfaces or asphalt surfaces comprising at least one asphalt surface layer.

An apparatus for heating asphalt is used with a container storing a gaseous fuel under pressure. The apparatus includes one or more heaters, each of which includes an elongate infrared emitter, an elongate burner tube, and a Venturi tube. The infrared emitter includes an elongate emitter surface for emitting infrared radiation at the material when the infrared emitter is heated. The burner tube is coupled to the infrared emitter, and defines a burner tube interior for distributing an air-fuel mixture to a plurality of burner tube apertures for distributing the air-fuel mixture over a burner tube outer surface disposed opposite to and spaced apart from the infrared emitter. The Venturi tube is for mixing the fuel from the container with air to create the air-fuel mixture, and supplying the air-fuel mixture to the burner tube interior.

An apparatus for heating asphalt is used with a container storing a gaseous fuel under pressure. The apparatus includes one or more heaters, each of which includes an elongate infrared emitter, an elongate burner tube, and a Venturi tube. The infrared emitter includes an elongate emitter surface for emitting infrared radiation at the material when the infrared emitter is heated. The burner tube is coupled to the infrared emitter, and defines a burner tube interior for distributing an air-fuel mixture to a plurality of burner tube apertures for distributing the air-fuel mixture over a burner tube outer surface disposed opposite to and spaced apart from the infrared emitter. The Venturi tube is for mixing the fuel from the container with air to create the air-fuel mixture, and supplying the air-fuel mixture to the burner tube interior.

A method and system for in situ cross-linking of polymers, Bitumen, and other materials to produce arbitrary functional or ornamental three-dimensional features using electron beams provided by mobile accelerators comprises defining a desired pattern for imparting on a target area, mapping the target area, defining at least one discrete voxel in the target area according to the desired pattern to be imparted on the target area, assigning an irradiation value to each of the at least one discrete voxels, and delivering a dose of irradiation to each of the at least one discrete voxels according to the assigned irradiation value.

A method and system for in situ cross-linking of polymers, Bitumen, and other materials to produce arbitrary functional or ornamental three-dimensional features using electron beams provided by mobile accelerators comprises defining a desired pattern for imparting on a target area, mapping the target area, defining at least one discrete voxel in the target area according to the desired pattern to be imparted on the target area, assigning an irradiation value to each of the at least one discrete voxels, and delivering a dose of irradiation to each of the at least one discrete voxels according to the assigned irradiation value.

An improved sealant packaging and method for use with sealing joints and cracks in pavement and parking lots is provided. Liquid sealant material is poured by volume into a container draped with a sheet. Container is cooled so that the sealant becomes a solid block, with the sheet adhered to the sides of the sealant block such that the sheet forms a container for the sealant. The sheet also acts a release liner for easily removing the sealant block from the container. Two or more contained blocks are stacked together, forming a package of two or more blocks self-sealed by sheets. When the package is placed in a melting kettle, heat migrates through the spaces between the individual sealant blocks and allows the smaller sealant blocks to melt quickly and evenly. Sheet and film melt with sealant material and are incorporated therein to form the final sealant product.

An improved sealant packaging and method for use with sealing joints and cracks in pavement and parking lots is provided. Liquid sealant material is poured by volume into a container draped with a sheet. Container is cooled so that the sealant becomes a solid block, with the sheet adhered to the sides of the sealant block such that the sheet forms a container for the sealant. The sheet also acts a release liner for easily removing the sealant block from the container. Two or more contained blocks are stacked together, forming a package of two or more blocks self-sealed by sheets. When the package is placed in a melting kettle, heat migrates through the spaces between the individual sealant blocks and allows the smaller sealant blocks to melt quickly and evenly. Sheet and film melt with sealant material and are incorporated therein to form the final sealant product.

A method for operating a road paver that is self-propelled and may be controlled via a machine controller. An internal combustion engine provides engine power for a hydraulic system and for a generator so as to generate a generator power for supplying at least one electrical screed plate heating system with electrical energy. The engine and generator power are changed via an engine controller and also a generator controller. Prior to and/or during the paving procedure, current measurements are performed on the current that is flowing between an electrical screed plate heating system, which is dimensioned in a frequency-independent manner, and the generator, in order to determine and ascertain a prevailing generator power that is drawn off at least by the electrical screed plate heating system.

A method for preparing a paving material includes heating an aggregate comprising recycled asphalt pavement using an emitter generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2 microns to 1 millimeter. The method utilizes solid phase autoregenerative cohesion to prepare a material suitable for use as an aggregate in a hot mix asphalt pavement installation.

A method for preparing a paving material includes heating an aggregate comprising recycled asphalt pavement using an emitter generating electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2 microns to 1 millimeter. The method utilizes solid phase autoregenerative cohesion to prepare a material suitable for use as an aggregate in a hot mix asphalt pavement installation.