Premier Graphene has released a technical report indicating that graphene, when integrated into asphalt mixtures, could enhance the stability and performance of road materials.
The study, conducted by Baja California Test, suggests that the use of graphene-modified asphalt may lead to more durable roads and infrastructure, potentially transforming the global road construction industry.
The research used conventional AC20 asphalt cement as a baseline, with graphene added at a 0.5% mass ratio.
This addition was found to increase the viscosity of the material and improve its stability by 70% over standard asphalt mixtures.
Employing the Marshall Test, Premier Graphene demonstrated that the stability values of the graphene-enhanced asphalt rose from an average of 1,123kg to 1,864kg.
The company notes that the next phase of research may involve applying the asphalt mixture to a section of road in a North American city, where it will be tested under various temperature conditions.
By adhering to the AMAAC Protocol Level II during testing, researchers aim to understand the material's resistance to permanent deformation and its durability against environmental stresses.
This is expected to lead to widespread use in infrastructure projects across different climates.
Premier Graphene interim president Pedro Mendez said: “Separately, we await yet further confirmation of these results from the testing by the two very large materials companies with whom we have discussed and tested our unique asphalt additive.
“We also anticipate further discussions with a major city government in North America to determine how the graphene-enhanced asphalt performs in a high traffic environment. If these tests match what we have seen in these independent laboratories, the results will revolutionise the asphalt industry, commencing with roads.”
In July 2024, Premier Graphene began third-party tests on a graphene-enhanced asphalt developed by HGI Industrial Technologies.