What’s the ultimate type of road? One that can heal itself, that’s what. A new type of asphalt has been developed that can heal cracks and holes that have formed in it simply by heating the substance. Christopher Schlangen at Delft University and colleagues have created the asphalt as a way of fixing cracked or loose pavements and to get rid of potholes too.
If this type of road were to be adapted across the world it would save millions in road repairs every year. During the process steel wool is added to bitumen and when this is heated using an induction machine it melts and cracks the asphalt and the potholes are rejoined. The potential for this is huge. It could literally double the lifespan of roads. Why wouldn’t any country want it?
Ok, so it would cost a little more initially to use this asphalt opposed to regular asphalt, but just the Netherlands alone would save 9 million Euros by implementing these roads. Also, self-healing roads are far less likely to chip or allow stones to flick up and chip windscreens saving insurers and car owners lots of money annually there too. Running repairs would be fewer and far between too as there would be fewer potholes to damage any axles or wheels and fewer roads would be closed for maintenance.
Whichever way you look at it these roads are brilliant and will save money all around. If these roads are adopted worldwide, Schlangen says in the future he’d like to see cars being charged at traffic lights. “Putting steel fibers in the asphalt means that you can send information to it, so it might be possible to charge electric cars on the road they’re driving on,” he commented.
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