ForConstructionPros.com

A 100% RAP slurry seal product reduces the emulsion content required in a conventional slurry seal product by 20%. The reduction in emulsion saves trucking, asphalt and crude oil.

Using RAP in slurry seal applications also eliminates the need for virgin aggregate material. While the savings in emulsion and virgin aggregate only offset the additional cost of crushing and handling the RAP material, customers are satisfied with the "green" sustainable benefits they're able to achieve, and as Esbenshade points out, "taxpayers always support solutions that recycle existing materials, which is good for the environment."

Quality control

Pavement Recycling Systems has taken a leading role in promoting the benefits of a 100% RAP slurry seal alternative in meeting the needs of road agencies charged with the task of maintaining good road systems. As virgin aggregates continue to become a scarce resource and more expensive, utilizing recycled aggregates becomes a much more ecologically sound alternative.

But as Pavement Recycling Systems and Pavement Coatings point out, there has always been the issue of consistency in the quality of RAP that has caused some reservations on the part of agencies to award contracts where 100% RAP is used in the slurry application.

Pavement Coatings, which is a division of Pavement Recycling Systems, has been able to address the quality consistency issue and deliver a competitive product because Pavement Recycling controls the entire recycling process.