Puma Bitumen and Eiffage introduce high-performance GB5 Asphalt to Australia
Puma Energy Bitumen announced its first demonstration in Queensland, Australia of high-performance asphalt GB5®.
The demonstration by Puma Bitumen and Boral Asphalt saw the introduction of GB5® in Australia, a product developed by Eiffage. Prior to this demonstration, around four million tonnes of GB5® has been used on roads across France, Spain and South Africa.
The mix design was developed in France and validated using Australian test methods at the Puma Energy Global Bitumen Technology Centre in Australia. GB5® is offered by Puma Bitumen as an alternative to EME2, a high modulus asphalt.
The demonstration saw the GB5® base layer topped with a surfacing that included Puma Energy’s latest innovative hybrid binder, OLEXOCRUMB®. It was laid by Boral Asphalt near Brisbane.
The use of GB5® in the demonstration showed high stability during placement and compaction, compared to EME2. This is an advantage, especially when constructing multiple thick layers of asphalt in a single shift.
OLEXOCRUMB® and GB5® combined offers significant sustainability benefits to Australian roads. As a hybrid bitumen binder, OLEXOCRUMB® blends tyre-derived rubber with styrene-butadiene-styrene (SBS) and performs as strongly as conventional PMBs. The product promotes the use of recycled rubber and subsequently reduces the environmental impact of end-of-life tyres. In addition, GB5® is well suited to the creation of thinner long-life pavements, reducing the use of materials.
Dr Erik Denneman, Puma Bitumen Technical Manager, Middle East and Asia Pacific commented “We are delighted in the results from our successful demonstration of GB5® on a major road. We hope to engage road agencies around the country to promote this product in long-lasting and resilient roads, keeping sustainability front of mind.”
Following the success of this trial, Puma Bitumen is now offering this binder from its terminals in Australia.
