Warm mix asphalt is energy-saving and environmentally friendly, with broad future development space

Warm Mix Asphalt (WMA for short) is an asphalt mixture that uses certain technical measures to enable asphalt to be mixed and rolled at relatively low temperatures while maintaining performance no less than that of hot mix asphalt.

Due to the unique function of warm mix additives, the asphalt is fully dispersed during the mixing process, forming a unique water film lubrication structure inside the asphalt, allowing conventional mixing technology to mix, pave and roll at lower temperatures by reducing the The high-temperature viscosity of asphalt binder reduces the construction temperature of hot mix asphalt mixture by about 30°C. Warm mix asphalt has the advantages of environmental protection, energy saving, low asphalt aging, excellent performance, easy storage, and improved construction efficiency.

In 1995, Shell Company and Kolo-veidekke Company took the lead in researching warm-mix asphalt technology; in 1996, warm-mix asphalt products were actually used abroad. Germany was the first country to start using warm-mix asphalt, and subsequently warm-mix asphalt technology was promoted in other European countries, Japan, and Australia. In 2003, the United States introduced warm-mix asphalt technology. Due to the high level of national attention, warm-mix asphalt was rapidly promoted in the United States, and the application proportion increased to 50% in just five years.

The introduction of warm-mix asphalt technology in my country was two years later than that of the United States. It was first applied in Beijing. Later, Shanghai, Henan, Liaoning and other places also began to use warm-mix asphalt. At present, warm-mix asphalt has become the surface layer of high-grade highways in my country. main materials. In recent years, as the country attaches increasing importance to green development, warm-mix asphalt has received great attention from the country due to its remarkable environmental protection properties. In the “Guiding Opinions of the State Council on Accelerating the Establishment and Improvement of a Green, Low-carbon and Circular Development Economic System” released in 2021, Article 17 clearly proposes to actively promote the application of warm-mix asphalt, intelligent ventilation, auxiliary power replacement and energy-saving lamps, sound insulation barriers, etc. Advanced energy-saving and environmentally friendly technologies and products. The country’s increased emphasis on the application of warm mix asphalt will play a role in driving the growth of market demand in the warm mix asphalt industry.

In addition, my country’s increased investment in highway construction will also promote the continued growth of warm-mix asphalt market demand. From January to October 2021, my country completed transportation fixed asset investment of 2.9 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.3%, and an average growth of 5.5% in the two years. Among them, highway investment was 2.1 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.0%. During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, in addition to new highways, the existing highway reconstruction market will also bring huge demand for warm-mix asphalt. According to the released “China Warm Mix Asphalt Products Market Analysis Feasibility Research Report 2021-2025”, it is expected that from 2021 to 2025, The growth rate of China’s warm mix asphalt market will remain above 5%.

Industrial analysts said that with the expansion of the market, new investors will surely enter the warm-mix asphalt industry, leading to competition in the industry market. It will be more intense.