A solid bitumen pellet, including a mixture of bitumen and an additive, where the additive operates to increase the viscosity of the mixture. Optionally, the pellet includes a protective shell.

Carbon fiber composite additives, media incorporating the carbon fiber composites, and related methods are provided herein. In some aspects, a composition includes at least one medium; and a carbon fiber composite incorporated with the at least one medium, the carbon fiber composite including one or more carbon fibers with an epoxy resin matrix applied thereto to produce a composition having improved characteristics and filtration performance.

A method of transporting non-volatile bituminous materials from a first location to a second location involves carrying a plurality of irregular bricks formed by the bituminous material in transport chambers carried by vehicles. Bricks are defined by a plurality of non-planar surface, which create gaps between adjacent bricks, and can further include polymer skeletons and other features that help them float. The bricks can travel by land, sea, air, or rail and need not be heated while in transit. Transport chambers have active or preferably passive environmental control systems to circulate cooling air, water, or other substances through the transport chamber and the gaps between adjacent bricks. In a preferred embodiment, ambient air circulates among the bricks during travel by land and ambient water circulates among the bricks during marine travel. The vehicles carrying the transport chambers can be low-emissions or zero-emission vehicles including fuel-cell powered trains and ships.

A substantially solid brick of non-volatile bituminous material has a shape that is defined by an irregular outer surface to minimize surface contact with nearby bricks when shipped in bulk. The overall shape is preferably that of a modified tetrahedron having three non-planar face surfaces, a top surface, and a surface or point. Both the top and bottom surfaces are preferably modified domed shapes comprised of several sections. The face sections are preferably modified concave surfaces comprised of several triangular sections that can be planar, concave, or convex. Curved edges connect the face sections to each other and can include several planar edge sections. The bituminous material can include additives, and the brick can further include a skeleton distributed throughout. The skeleton can be a customizable matrix, framework of fiber groups, or other structure and can include customizable buoyant features such as air pockets or capsules.

A method of preparing non-volatile bituminous material in solid form includes first accessing molds having mold cavities defining an irregularly shaped brick having a plurality of non-planar surfaces and preparing the bituminous material for casting by heating it until it is suitably viscous for casting and optionally blending it with an additive. Then, the molds can be filled with the bituminous materials, preferably using a retractable conduit that progressively fills each mold cavity from its bottom to its top. Next, the bituminous material in the molds is solidified until substantially solid bricks are formed. Optionally, a skeleton with optional additional buoyant features can be placed in each mold cavity prior to casting so that the resulting brick has increased buoyancy throughout, and the skeleton and any buoyant features can be customized according to the needs of the customer. The resulting bricks can be removed for transport.

A receiver for irregularly shaped bricks cast from non-volatile bituminous material includes a receiver with a specialized storage chamber that can receive viscous bituminous material and a concave lid preferably modified with a radiant heating system that can accept and melt or soften arriving bricks. The lid includes multiple openings or other delivery routes that funnel the melted bituminous material to the chamber below. The radiant heating system can be electrical where cables or grids are embedded in the lid or where conductive materials coat or are distributed throughout the lid. Alternatively, the radiant heating system can be hydronic where channels or conduits are embedded in the lid to circulate heated liquid such as water or water mixed with propylene glycol. The receiver can also include blenders, skimmers, and additional heaters to further skim, blend, or process the bituminous material collected in the chamber.

A method for reducing odors including the steps of admixing active agents and a diluting agent to liquid crumb rubber modified bitumen, wherein the active agents comprise 20 to 60 wt.-% of an aldehyde selected from alpha-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, 2-(4-tert.-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, 2-benzylidenheptanal, or mixtures thereof, and 10 to 40 wt.-% of one or more alcohols having a boiling point of at least 150° C., calculated on the total weight of active agents. A crumb rubber modified bitumen composition as obtained by the method above. The use of a crumb rubber modified bitumen composition as obtained by the method above in road surfacing and road base materials, in insulating layers for buildings, in roofing materials and/or in sealing sheeting.

A method for reducing odors including the steps of admixing active agents and a diluting agent to liquid crumb rubber modified bitumen, wherein the active agents comprise 20 to 60 wt.-% of an aldehyde selected from alpha-hexyl cinnamaldehyde, 2-(4-tert.-butylbenzyl) propionaldehyde, 2-benzylidenheptanal, or mixtures thereof, and 10 to 40 wt.-% of one or more alcohols having a boiling point of at least 150° C., calculated on the total weight of active agents. A crumb rubber modified bitumen composition as obtained by the method above. The use of a crumb rubber modified bitumen composition as obtained by the method above in road surfacing and road base materials, in insulating layers for buildings, in roofing materials and/or in sealing sheeting.

Compositions comprising renewable source derived polymer oil polymerization macroinitiators and multiblock polymer compositions derived therefrom by atom transfer radical polymerization are disclosed. Hard, glossy multiblock copolymers, thermoset multiblock copolymers, thermoplastic block copolymer elastomers, and methods of making and using these types of materials are disclosed.

A penetrating base oil emulsion and a method of using the penetrating base oil emulsion to fill voids below the surface of an asphalt pavement. The penetrating emulation further being water resistant so as not to be washed off a pavement surface by water after being applied to the pavement. The penetrating base oil emulsion can also rejuvenate the surface of the asphalt.