Evonik is pursuing a sustainable and cost-effective approach to road construction.
Vestenamer, the company's process additive for the rubber industry, makes it feasible to process rubber powder from scrap tyres to generate asphalt with rubber content.
To improve the quality of the mixtures and to extend the service life of road surfaces, the recycled material is mixed into road construction bitumen or asphalt.
The rubber powder is frequently used in porous asphalt, also known as low-noise asphalt, that cuts down on traffic noise.

Evonik
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The emissions of volatile and semi-volatile compounds, including hydrocarbons and sulphur compounds, are much lower in road surfaces containing rubber than in conventional, polymer-modified asphalt types.
Furthermore, Evonik’s process additive reduces the migration of organic compounds that are washed out by rain and reach the groundwater.
Frank Lindner, Senior Business Manager for Vestenamer, said: “The market for elastomer-modified, i.e. rubber-containing, road surfaces have been growing in Europe over the past years. The positive properties are obvious since the material significantly reduces cracking, ruts and potholes in the road surface, which in turn extends road service life.”