Chris Sparks with MacRebur delves into the utilization of reclaimed plastics into asphalt pavement mixes delivered during the CalAPA Spring Asphalt Pavement Conference March 7-8, 2024 in Ontario, Calif.

1. MACREBUR
SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA
RECYCLED
POLYMER
ADDITIVE

2. Contents
• What is plastic asphalt?
• At the Asphalt Plant
• At the Jobsite
• MacRebur Products
• DOT and Commercial Projects
• Environmental Benefits/ 2023
offsets

3. What is plastic
asphalt?
• MacRebur makes two products, MR6 and MR8. Both products
utilize specific polymers that are designated as waste and
destined for landfills and transform conventional asphalt into
sustainable recycled polymer asphalt.
• Select polymer types are combined at specific ratios and
combined with a proprietary additive developed by MacRebur to
be used in the asphalt manufacturing process.
• Waste plastic additive is used to replace a portion of the virgin oil
in asphalt, at a 1:1 replacement of approx. 3 – 15% by total
weight of oil.
• Successful bitumen replacements of up to 30% have been
carried out in the UK, Turkey, Australia and Saudi Arabia.
• Plastic Asphalt looks the same as conventional asphalt, has no
change to the installation process, and requires no additional
training.

4. At The Asphalt Plant
• At the asphalt plant, oil is reduced at a 1:1 ratio by weight of
plastic additive
• At a drum plant, a mobile silo is brought in and delivers the
additive at a pre-calibrated dosage onto the RAP belt.
• Recommended dosing is 3% to 15% of additive by total weight
of oil per ton of HMA.
• Production times and process otherwise unchanged
Drum Plant

5. • Virgin oil is reduced at a 1:1 ratio by weight of plastic
additive.
• At a batch plant, pre-calibrated low melt plastic bags
containing the additive are introduced at the weigh hopper.
• Pre-calibrated, low-melt plastic bags may also be introduced
via the asphalt plant’s Rap belt.
• Recommended dosing is 3% to 15% of additive by total
weight of oil per ton of HMA.
• Production times and process otherwise unchanged
At The Asphalt Plant
Batch Plant

6. At the jobsite
• No additional equipment
• No additional training
• No noted difference from paving crew
• Faster compaction
• More forgiving mat/fewer roller tears/marks

7. Macrebur Products – MR8
• Ideally suited to surfacing parking lots, driveways, and local
roads, where sustainability and economics are the primary
drivers
• Suited to all asphalt types to be used in all layers of road
construction
• Designed for the extension of asphalt binders
• Selected to extend unmodified asphalt to maximize
environmental and economic benefits without adversely
impacting asphalt performance
• Holds rejuvenative properties that allow for increased
performance testing of high-RAP mixes (30%-45% RAP)

8. Macrebur Products – MR6
• Designed for use where traditional polymer modified mixes
are specified.
• Selected to increase the stiffness and deformation (rutting)
resistance of asphalt mixtures without compromising
flexibility (cracking resistance)
• Suited to all asphalt types to be used in all layers of road
construction
• Ideally sutied to surfacing intersections, roundabouts, and
slow moving, heavy vehicle areas where deformation
resistance is critical.

9. COMMERCIAL & PUBLIC PROJECTS
DOT PROJECTS TO DATE:
• New York
• New Jersey
• Virginia
• Pennsylvania
• Texas
COMMERCIAL DEEP DIVE
• Chevron Phillips Chemical Company
• CRH
• Vulcan Materials
• Martin Marietta
• All American Asphalt
• American Materials

10. Currently active in over 30 countries across the world
Manufacturing facilities located in:
• United Kingdom
• Spain
• Estonia
• United States of America
• New Zealand
• Republic of Moldova
• Turkey
Where we are

11. TEXAS DOT Project
PILOT:
- 3076 D SAC A. PG 70-22
- 40% RAP
- 5lb MR8 per mix ton
- 3/10 reduction in oil
CONTROL/SPEC MIX:
- 3076 D SAC A. PG 70-22
-10% RAP
Asphalt Manufacturer – CRH / Gulf Coast
Paving Contracrtor – CRH / Gulf Coast
Location – FM2004 in Galveston County, TX

12. 5/21/23 - 48 Loads, 1258.24 Tons
5/22/23 - 60 loads, 1557.39 Tons
5/23/23 - 57 loads, 1,476.09 Tons
5/24/23 - 50 loads, 1,305.13 Tons
5/25/23 - 54 loads, 1,402.70 Tons
5/30/23 - 32 loads, 841.38 Tons
5/31/23 - 61 loads, 1641.78 Tons
Total – 9,482.88 Tons
TEXAS DOT Project

13. -CRH / Texas Materials
-Martin Marietta
-Vulcan Materials
-American Materials
-All American Asphalt
-Chevron Philips Chemical
-KB Home
Commercial Projects / Producers

14. Tensile Strength Ratio (S2/S1) 93.5
Load Report
Technician: Johan Quintero Signature: ______________________________
InstroTek Inc. www.instrotek.com
Project ID: 216055 RPM (RT) (10) Sample Type: TYPE D SAC B PG 64-
22 RPM
Date / Time: 03/09/23 16:09 Peak Load (Stability): 4.7 kN (1056.1 lbf)
Sample Diameter: 150 mm (5.9 in.) IDT Strength: 322 kPa (46.7 PSI)
Sample Thickness: 62 mm (2.44 in.) Peak Displacement: 4.21 mm (0.17 in.)
Starting Load: 0.1 kN (22.5 lbf) Flow (0.01 inch units): 16.6
Stopping Load: 0.1 kN (22 lbf) Work of Failure: 53.80 Joules
Max Specific Gravity: 2.428 Energy to Peak: 12.90 Joules
Voids: 6.7 Failure Energy: 5790.8 Joules/m^2
% AC: 5.2% Temperature: 121 °F (49.4 °C)
Displacement at 75%: 6.9002 mm (0.2717 in.) IDEAL-CT Index: 370.230
Average Speed: 50.5 mm/Min Post-Peak Slope 75%: 720173.03 N/m
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16. THANK YOU
MACREBUR SOUTHERN CA.
A DIVISION OF THE SPARKS COMPANY, INC.
SALES@THESPARKSCO.com
(619)994-2501
WWW.MACREBUR.COM
WWW.THESPARKSCO.COM