From Tires to Asphalt

A growing need to recycle millions of tires discarded annually has resulted in the ongoing development of a proposed new ASTM International specification that provides standards for converting tires into an asphalt product. WK20240, Specification for Performance Graded Tire Rubber-Modified Asphalt Binder is being developed by Subcommittee D04.40 on Asphalt Specifications, under the jurisdiction of ASTM International Committee D04 on Road and Paving Materials.

“ASTM continues to be a leader in recycling and sustainability,” says George Way, a consultant and D04 member who notes that ASTM published the initial standard for use of crumb rubber from waste tires, D6114, Specification for Asphalt-Rubber Binder, in 1994. The proposed new standard applies to asphalt product that contains a minimum of 10 percent waste tire crumb rubber.

Way says that WK20240 was in part inspired by Assembly Bill 338, a piece of state legislation from California that sets a timetable for a large portion of waste tires to be usefully integrated into highway pavements. “California, as well as Arizona, Texas and Florida, have long used asphalt-rubber in pavements with success,” notes Way.

CONTACT

Technical Information: George Way, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Phone: 480-990-9451

ASTM Staff: Daniel Smith

Phone: 610-832-9727