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Best Practices for Managing RAP

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With the increase in the amount of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) used in modern mix designs, good RAP management practices need to be deployed across the entire production and paving processes to ensure the greatest economic benefit from RAP along with the highest quality of recycled asphalt mix.

Milling Best Practices:

  1. Start & Stop Slowly to Control Quality
  2. Work at a Consistent Speed to Maintain Material Consistency
  3. Mill Asphalt Layers Separately for Best Classification
  4. Properly Store Millings Before Reuse at the Plant
cold milling machine
READ: Best Practices for Milling

While Storing Recycled Material:

  1. Keep RAP Clean & Dry
  2. Separate RAP into Piles Based on Material Classification
  3. Crush Only What is Needed for Two to Three Months
covered pile of RAP
READ: The Importance of Covering Up During the Winter Months

When Producing High RAP Mixes

  1. Heat RAP More Gradually and at Lower Temperature than Normal
  2. Estimate RAP Aggregate Specific Gravity
  3. Account for RAP Binder in Aggregate Batching.
  4. Reduce New Binder Content to Account for RAP Binder
  5. Use a Lower Virgin Binder Grade or a High-Performance Rejuvenator to Account for the RAP Binder Aging
READ: Adding Life to High RAP Mixes
Caterpillar paving machine and two workers

Pave to Perfection

  1. State RAP usage rates vary from about 10% to 35%
  2. A Well-Produced and Balanced RAP Mixture Should Have Minimal Impact on the Paving Process

99%

of all asphalt pavement material that is removed from an existing roadway is recycled back into infrastructure-related materials and products
piles of RAP
READ: Best Practices for Managing Your RAP at the Plant
grinder at asphalt plant
READ: National Survey Indicates Most Asphalt Companies Using Over 21% RAP in Mixes
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