Creating well formed and shaped roads in a cost effective and time efficient manner is the main aim of every pavement engineer. With the development of Roadment®, launched in late 1999 by Blue Circle Southern Cement (Victoria), this aim has begun to achieve realisation.
Roadment® was developed in response to the demand for slow setting cementitious binders by the road stabilisation industry. It is manufactured from a blend of ground blast furnace slag, a by product of steel manufacturing; and bypass dust, an alkaline by product of Blue Circle’s cement works at Waurn Ponds in Victoria. As in VicRoads standard specification 307, Insitu Stabilisation of Pavements with Cementitious Binders, Roadment® can be described as an alkali-activated slag.
Roadment® has been used in over 100 projects since its commercial release in 1999, including state road authority and Local Government works as well as private developments. It has the following features and benefits.
- Extended working time of 8 to 12 hours, confirmed by VicRoads Test Method RC330.02, Determination of Maximum Allowable Working Time for a Cementitious Binder, which assists in achieving enhanced ride quality.
- Long term strength development.
- The ability to reduce a material’s plasticity index (PI) due to the presence of alkalis such as lime.
- Some evidence of reduced shrinkage due to the slow nature of reactions.
- Important environmental benefits such as reduction of industry waste and greenhouse gas emissions.
Tony Greenberger, Works Manager with VicRoads, Western Region, has overseen the use of Roadment® in the Wimmera, Henty and Western Highways, where the existing roads have been rehabilitated.
In total, 50,000 square metres of pavement in the Western Region have been rehabilitated with Roadment®.
“Roads that we have done are still holding up quite well,” he said. “No problems with it at all. There is probably even less cracking with Roadment® than with slag/lime and cement.”
Among others, the following Councils have used Roadment® in the stabilisation process to extend the life of their roads.
- Berrigan Shire Council, NSW
- Conargo Shire Council, NSW
- Urana Shire Council, NSW
- Corangamite Shire Council, Victoria
- Northern Grampians Shire Council, Victoria
- Mildura Rural City Council, Victoria
- Rural City of Horsham, Vic
- Yarriambiack Shire Council, Victoria
- Rural City of Ararat, Victoria
- West Wimmera Shire Council, Victoria
- Strathbogie Shire Council, Victoria.
For further information on Roadment®, contact Blue Circle Southern Cement, on (03) 5241 8291, toll free 1800 673 570, or visit the website: www.blue-circlesoutherncement.com.au Roadment® is a registered trademark of Blue Circle Southern Cement.
* Copy supplied by Blue Circle Southern Cement
