Research topics
Among the projects carried out at the CRM:
- Development of Tempera® warm mix range. These techniques are adaptable to special Eurovia warm mixes and allow to reduce temperatures down to -50°C.
- Creation of Viasphalt BT®. It enables to obtain a 70°C decrease in mixing and application temperatures of our asphalt mixes, in accordance with the new regulations foreseen (REACH).
- Development of asphalt mixes for racing circuit, using a shear resistance test specifically adapted to the context.
- Active research on the improvement of our Viaphone® technique, already effective in terms of reduction of noise nuisances. Studies regarding the exportation of the technique through Europe are in progress.
Mérignac Research center:
Mérignac Research center (CRM) has test equipment allowing the development of asphalt mixes up to level 4.
They also use a further test range to adapt each asphalt mix to a specific jobsite and/or to weather conditions. The research is run for every road layer in order to meet environmental, mechanical and geographical criteria.
Specific bituminous :
Furthermore, the Research Center regularly works on the adaptation of the various special Eurovia asphalt mixes to specific requirements of some European countries and more countries all over the world.
Main Eurovia special asphalt mixes:
Tempera®, Viaphone®, Renfovia®, Rexovia®, Modulovia®, Rugovia®, Drainovia®, Viacolor®, Flexiplast®, Viasaf®
This product range is divided into two families:
1-Cold coating techniques
Recyclovia®, Recyvia®, Ecolvia®, Gripfibre® (microsurfacing), Grave emulsion et Grave foam, Storage life cold mixes.
2-Tack coat and penetration prime coat techniques
Designing of fast-breaking or controlled-breaking emulsions, with pure or modified bitumen.
To complete these tests, the CRM has two pilot facilities for the production of emulsion, one pilot plant for foam bitumen, mixers for asphalt mixes and tests to control bitumen emulsions: dynamic viscometer, laser particle size analyzer, pH meter, Zetameter…
The aim of the research theme « cold techniques » is to understand physico-chemical phenomena that control the production of emulsions and interactions with aggregates. Taking into account the renewable origin of raw materials, directs our research on the assessment of numerous molecules such as emulsifiers, fluxes, waxes, adhesion additives, foam additives …
This research allows to develop our product range and to ensure the transfer of technology to our subsidiaries abroad.
In the engineering structure waterproofing range, Eurovia has four
effective techniques adapted to various engineering structures. All
these tests, enabling to validate and to obtain approvals, are
carried out at the Research Centre, thanks to the laboratory high
technology equipment.
This autonomy and capacity in terms of development and implementation allowed us to validate and adapt our products to ensure the waterproofing of great engineering structures built by VINCI through the world. Latest referenced engineering structures: Rion-Antirion in Greece and Grande Ravine bridge in La Réunion Island.
Engineering structure waterproofing techniques of Eurovia:
Etanplast®; Orthoplast®; Viaplast®; Resiplast®
Signature Company, n°1 in Europe for traffic signing and road marking, develops new paints for road marking to improve the sustainability and the effectiveness of the product.
As for road signing, Eurovia innovates new materials for the production of traffic signs (ink, polymers…) and variable message signs (VMS).
These developments aim to improve safety and sustainability of road equipment.
• Resins and polymers
Eurovia produces and applies resin and other polymer-based products for roads (marking, waterproofing and technical surface dressing), building industry (flooring, paint, waterproofing), or civil engineering (engineering structure waterproofing). The Mérignac Research Centre is the one that starts the product development and supplements the expertise of specialized subsidiary laboratories. Its laboratory has the equipment for mechanical, rheological and accelerated ageing tests. Two recent innovations come from Eurovia's research: heat-sensitive varnish indicating negative temperatures and insulating paint.
• NOxer®
NOxer® is a technique especially innovative in the road building industry: for the first time, we have a technique that allows to capture the polluting emissions, generated by vehicles. Adaptable to many applications (noise barriers, roads, car parks, tunnels, paints...), it takes part in the reduction of the vehicle impact by decreasing the concentration in nitrogen oxides. The Research Centre carries out as well measurement studies on the effectiveness of Noxer® on sites. A laboratory equipped vehicle was specially adapted to make measurements on all parameters affecting the air quality and nitrogen oxides. And thanks to the expertise in this field, collaboration with State institutions specialized in monitoring the air quality, is increasing.
Characterization of recycled aggregates
Thanks to the studies carried out, we can find the best elaboration process to define the reliable use field in geotechnical and environmental terms.
The laboratory works are continued on experimental jobsites, validating recycling schemes on sites or on industrial platforms.
The data obtained made a key player of Eurovia in this sector, regarding development of standards and specifications.
Among recent study topics :
- Impact of the aggregates shape, measured by image analysis, on the properties of asphalt concretes.
- Study on the impact of colorimetric and photometric
characteristics of the aggregates on those of road surfacing.
- Use conditions with a high rate of recycled aggregates and
reclaimed asphalt pavement in road hydraulic bituminous and bound
products.
- Environmental characteristics of natural, recycled and artificial aggregates and establishing of « sustainable » environmental specifications.
Materials and recycling
Specific study equipment is used for the works devoted to aggregates:
- Polishing and skid resistance measurement apparatus: Wehner and Schulze
- X-ray diffraction scanner
- Colorimeter
- Weathering simulator with carbon dioxide for MSWI-BA (municipal solid waste incineration bottom ashes)
- Laboratory Eddy Current Separator for non-ferrous metals separation
- Leaching laboratory
Modified binders
Those binders are modified by introducing polymer and/or other types of additives so as to improve performances. By searching and selecting new additives, combined with specific production techniques, we obtain a diversified range meeting various use requirements. Production techniques in plants vary according to the type of bitumen, the nature of polymer (plastomer, elastomer) and/or other additives and required properties. The mix can only be physical (P, E Polybitume range) or accompanied by a chemical reaction such as cross-linking (Styrelf® range…).
Besides the diversity of their use, the range of Eurovia modified binders can be used in many specific techniques, either coating or spreading techniques.
Pure bitumen
Bitumen, also called anhydrous binder or hydrocarbon binder, is widely present in our environment: it becomes a component of road materials, waterproofing systems and industrial applications. Thanks to its "tacky" properties and its characteristics almost infinitely recyclable, it is an essential construction material. With its viscoelastic properties, it contributes to the mechanical behaviour of pavement structure. Moreover it is insensitive to water and ensures waterproofing.
However, the use of pure bitumen has limits. In order to meet weather constraints, evolutions due to the traffic and more and more demanding application techniques, the Research Centre has developed a new range of anhydrous binders.
In order to ensure the performances of these binders, we have European standardized tests (penetrability, Ring and Ball Temperature...), as well as American ones (BBR, PAV...) and equipment specific to research such as a dynamic rheometer, a DSC, an optical microscope images analysis...
Sequoia® bio binder
Sequoia®, without being an alternative to the traditional oil industry, is a binder with plant origin produced from agricultural resources. It replaces standard bitumen for decorative and qualitative applications. Surfacing laid this way, enables to improve the safety and aesthetic of various sites, but also the comfort of road users thanks to a better reading and understanding of shared spaces.
Acoustic expertise
Mérignac Research Centre has measurement equipment in vehicles that enable to assess phonic performances of road surfacing, as well as acoustic measurement laboratory facilities to design products. Indeed, some of the surface dressings, such as wearing courses and sound barriers, are specially developed to absorb noises generated by road traffic.
Environmental expertise
Innovation in terms of environmental protection is the basis of Eurovia research and development program. Within this framework, the company implements all necessary means to reduce olfactory, atmospheric nuisances, and to decrease effluent emissions. Regular checks are run on the various Eurovia industrial sites, as well as assessment of overall nuisances on environment and sources within the site itself.
Furthermore, the reduction of smells and gaseous effluents is an integral part of the research on new products and techniques. The Research Centre maintains its commitment regarding the environmental impacts, by developing a real expertise in terms of control of the air quality. Many measurement campaigns are in progress with very effective analytic means (GC/MS, FID, spectroscopy...), in order to estimate the gain in air quality (smells and pollution).
Mechanical tests
Over 30 years of good and faithful service, a main road is trafficked by at least 50 millions of trucks, receives over than 40 000 mm of rainfall (i.e. the height of a building with more than 10 floors), and undergoes temperatures ranging from - 25°C to + 70°C at the surface. Sustainable development for the road network is one of Eurovia's first commitments. Therefore, the Research Centre implemented a range of mechanical tests such as, study on deterioration mechanisms that may affect the sustainability of our products and techniques, development of made-to-measure thermomechanical tests, design and production of a fatigue equipment prototype for pavement materials and associated software, expertise studies on individual basis.
The team of the mechanical test laboratory uses various skills in electronics, physical measurement, real-time computing, and modelling by Finite Element Method. Moreover, lateral collaborations increase with the other laboratories of the Research Centre.
Full analytic equipment to analyse and expertise
Optical microscopy coupled with an injection of fluorescent resin, is implemented at different scale to expertise all building materials.
Scanning electron microscopy with X-ray microprobe enables a maximum magnification of the details, coupled with a chemical analysis.
Also, thermography enables to optimize natural resources by calculating the right production temperature of the materials, taking into account the variables of each jobsite.
These high technology analysis means are used for the development and as a support for all Eurovia entities via the technical network.
