Modern roadway technology has made great strides in the last few centuries, perhaps none as revolutionary as the development of asphalt. Today, while it’s also utilized in a number of different forms for other uses like waterproofing and roofing, it’s still primarily recognized as a paving product and is laid down by the truckload every day around the world. One of the major advantages of this ingenious material is also one of the things that makes it difficult to work with. Its highly viscous nature and impressive strength when hardened make maintaining the tools used to apply it a particular challenge. That’s why scientists and engineers continue to develop new compounds of asphalt extraction solvent, and why today’s products have a host of valuable advantages over their predecessors.
A Safer Asphalt Extraction Solvent
Many early asphalt extraction solvent products contained trichloroethylene (TCE) and/or methylene chloride (MeCl). Both compounds are toxic and pose serious health risks to road workers who are exposed to these compounds for long periods. Today, manufacturers like BIOACT® produce an asphalt extraction solvent that is non-toxic and USDA Certified Biobased.
Less Harmful To The Environment
The harsh chemicals in many early lubricant and removal products were not only harmful to workers, but also contained environmentally dangerous compounds as well. Today’s products often contained citrus-based terpenes & surfactants and are both biodegradable and non-ozone depleting.
Easier to Work With
As the technology for applying paving aggregates has evolved to make the process quicker, easier and more efficient, the cleaning and degreasing products have had to follow suit. Many modern solvents are water soluble and can be utilized quickly and easily, minimizing downtime and avoiding elaborate decontamination steps.
Versatility
Perhaps the greatest advantage to these modern solvents is their versatility. Not only can they be used for extraction at full strength, but many can be diluted up to 30:1 to suit a wide range of needs from lubricating surface contact machinery to preventing adhesion in truck beds.
If you’re in need of a safe and effective asphalt extraction solvent, the experts at Canadian Finishing Systems can help you choose the product that will best suit your needs. Contact their knowledgeable account representatives for more information.