Originally Intended as Alternative Market for Soybeans, Nontoxic Sealants Prove to Extend Asphalt Pavement Lifespan up to 16 Years, Saving up to 30 Percent of Typical City’s Road Repair Budget
Hutchinson, MN – July 16, 2016 – At the Road Sealant Forum, held on April 20, the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute (AURI) released several years’ worth of data that suggests biobased road sealants have a positive impact on road quality, the environment and city budgets.
More than 50 attendees from construction, engineering and local governments convened April 20 to learn more about the sealants, their applications and impacts.
Initially, AURI’s main reason for championing the project was to evaluate another potential market for Minnesota-grown soybeans, but results of the study—which was conducted over several years—indicated unforeseen benefits other than nontoxicity.
The study conducted by the City of Hutchinson concluded that if applied to new pavement, the soybean-based sealant may delay the first chip and seal repair by six to eight years and can be applied a second time to further delay road work for 12 to 16 years. As a result, the soybean-based road sealants could save an estimated 30 percent of a typical city’s road repair budget, freeing these funds for other projects. To encourage the adoption of the sealants, AURI, in cooperation with partners, disseminated the information directly to key decision-makers who could bring this technology to cities, municipalities, parks and commercial properties throughout Minnesota.
The main portion of the program focused specifically on RePLAY™ soy-based road sealant and its performance on Hutchinson city streets. Research conducted by the Local Operational Research Assistance Program found the sealant permeated the pavement surface and performed well on both trails with significant damage and relatively new asphalt. According to the research report summary, after the application of the sealant, water ran off the paved surfaces at a higher rate of speed without wicking into the surface. Thus, the product serves to protect roadways from deterioration and maintain skid resistance for vehicles. According to its manufacturer, RePLAY™ reverses the oxidation process and protects asphalt from potholing, edge-rutting and cracking.
The City of Hutchinson reported other benefits such as a short drying time, non-tacky residue and no stickiness in hot weather as observed with petroleum-based sealants. There may be specific benefits to applying soybean-based road sealants to park systems and other areas concerned with the land pollution impact.
“Utilizing a Minnesota commodity like soybeans in road application has benefits to the rural communities in which they are grown, but also to the public and the roadways that benefit
from extended life,” said Mike Youngerberg, Minnesota Soybean senior director of field services in an attribution on the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council website.
As asphalt prices increase, so do the cost of petroleum-based sealants. Overall results indicate that RePLAY™ would be cost-effective.
The Road Sealant Forum was part of AURI’s Innovation Network Program, which brings together thought leaders to identify industry needs and implement innovative ideas. The event concluded with a site visit to the treated roadways in Hutchinson.