Aston University civil engineering experts and Miles Macadam to help make road surfaces more sustainable
The material that Miles Macadam use in their surfacing products contain fly ash, a waste product from coal-fired power stations, which now has to be imported. As a result, the quality of this fly ash is variable and the supply can be erratic. Miles Macadam is therefore making use of the University’s test facilities to evaluate more sustainable alternatives.
The project will explore the use of biochar, a carbon-rich material that is produced from processing organic matter such as wood or agricultural waste at very high temperatures. Using waste materials would also conserve virgin resources and reduce the costs and dependence on imported materials.
The team will produce and test hardened grouts for water absorbency and strength, including if the materials can withstand heavy weights. They will use Aston University’s specialist environmental testing facility to see how the materials respond to extended cycles of freezing and thawing, mimicking the weather conditions that they may be subject to when used. Once the best candidate materials have been identified, they will be tested in real-world conditions at a Miles Macadam site.
The company chose to team up with Aston University because it has the research expertise to characterise alternatives to fly ash and assess how they affect performance, both in the handling of the product and its final properties.
The lead academic on the team is Professor Mujib Rahman, a chartered engineer at Aston University’s Department of Civil Engineering. According to him, the project will help Miles Macadam future proof their products and reduce their CO2 emissions.
“It’s going to be fascinating to look in depth at the properties of biochar and see not only how it can work for Miles Macadam’s particular needs, but also how it might be used in many other situations as well,” he says.
- UK manufacturing steps up to COVID-19 crisis - April 2, 2020
- Clustering Innovation - March 12, 2020
- A Global Monitor - March 6, 2020