Pelletized
TLA
TESTING
AND SPECIFICATIONS:
A. LATT
has completed a rigorous testing programme to prove that TLA pellets
perform in the same manner as traditional TLA and maintain those same
compositional and specifications already well known.
The
physical parameters of TLA pellets was determined by examining
hundreds of pellets taken at various times of production during the
pilot plant runs. Technical evaluations have been done to ascertain
that TLA pellets are not different from the traditional form of TLA.
The pellets were evaluated in accordance with the American Standard
for Testing and Materials (ASTM) methods and Performance Graded (PG)
specifications. The results of the testing programme revealed that
pellets:
Ø
can be used to achieve the required PG grades commonly used
with Refinery Bitumen in dosages similar to that of traditional TLA
Ø can be blended with refinery bitumen to achieve conformance
with ASTM D5710 03
Ø contain
properties that conform to TTS
590 2002 (Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards)
Ø Exhibit no difference when compared to traditional TLA
according to Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
evaluations.
TLA
pellets were used on turns three (3) and four (4) of the DeSoto
Speedway in Bradenton Florida. Physical examination in December 2002
and and again in June 2004 showed an almost perfect wearing course.
(Download full report on this test strip)
Field
tests have also indicated that pellets can be successfully blended
into the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) plants
of both drum and batch types. Performance
has shown that the mixing of the pellets with the aggregate and
refinery bitumen in the mixing chamber conforms to requirements.
END
