The Melting Pot!

Vikas Jalan, Managing Director, Trans Metalite India Pvt Ltd, highlights the working, applications and efficacy of the infrared thermal technology employed by the Nu-phalt Infra-red Recycling Thermal Bonding Road Repair System.With potholes increasingly taking up most of the space on roads, municipal corporations are desperately searching for effective solutions. Potholes, being the root cause of several incidents, from raising furore amongst citizens, accidents and injuries, to even a politician refusing to inaugurate a new road on seeing its appalling condition, cities are digging deeper into the asphalt to figure out quality issues. However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) seem to have hit the nail on the head, after hiring Trans Metalite India Ltd to apply its state-of-the-art infrared recycling pothole patching technology to effectively seal potholes, failed joints and cracked or undulated surfaces on asphalt roads. Vikas Jalan, Managing Director, highlights the application and advantages...Stepping on Indian soilTrans Metalite has been associated with Nu-Phalt since it launched the first pilot system of Nu-Phalt Thermal Road Repair System about five to six years ago in the UK, creating its first success story, which has been repeated multifold across the world, including India. The first machine in India was bought by MCD a couple of years ago and is looked upon as a unique solution to extend the relay or overlay of damaged roads by at least two to four years.Working mattersThe Nu-Phalt Infra-red Recycling Thermal Road Repair System has an infrared heater that heats the affected portion of the road to about 160-170° C, along with some of the surrounding area, without burning, damaging or destroying the existing asphalt. This loosened surface is then manually disturbed with shovels and forks and mixed with a fresh bitumen emulsion binder for rejuvenation. Then, the missing aggregate mix, also preheated to a similar temperature as the road surface, is added from the hot boxes on the van, and the old and new mixtures are blended together and compacted instantly by a plate vibrator. The result is a monolithic thermal bond between the old and new asphalt, giving in a seamless and smooth permanent patch. One patch of 2 × 1 m can be completed in about 20 minutes, and the traffic can be reopened within 15-20 minutes thereafter. As the Nu-Phalt system does not require cutting or trimming of the patch repair area into a regular shape, it saves on time and labour. Moreover, all required tools (compactor, filling material in hot boxes, binder, safety signs, cones, etc) are available on the van itself, and the job can be completed by just the driver and three helpers for about 6-8 sq m in about an hour.The advantagesAvoiding the requirement for multiple vehicles, lesser road area is blocked and noise levels and exhaust emissions are kept to a minimum, reducing inconvenience to road users and residents. At approximately half the repair time of other methods, the system can significantly reduce pothole backlog. Most important, the pothole is not only repaired with a permanent patch, but the road is also restored with infrared technology, increasing the effective life of the surface. Apart from this, the equipment can be deployed for repairs throughout the year, except for when it is actually raining. Compared to conventional methods, the Nu-Phalt Infra-red Recycling Thermal Road Repair System has been proven to be eco-friendly and saves time, materials, labour and emissions.Current statusContinuous work has been going on for one-and-a-half years across MCD roads in Delhi, thus eliminating the requirement of relay and overlay on numerous roads and yet making commuting very comfortable. The repaired patches have seen two seasons of heavy rain in Delhi and not even one patch has come out. Moreover, after the consistent success story at MCD and HUDA, now DSIIDC (Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd), NDMC (New Delhi Municipal Council), PWD (Delhi), DDA (Delhi Development Authority) and MORTH (Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways) are also considering deploying the technology for roads under their jurisdiction. Besides getting approvals from BBA (British Board of Agreement), UK, and the due accreditation by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), the system and process have also been approved by the Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) based on the successful work being done on MCD roads.About the author:Vikas Jalan is also Managing Director of a company engaged in marketing solar powered road guidance systems, concrete curing compounds, security systems and other road related products. Chairman of India-Philippines JBC at FICCI, he also chairs the Work Zone Safety and Environment sub-groups at International Roads Federation Group of Experts on Road Safety.If you have an innovative technology to share, write in at feedback@ASAPPmedia.com