Skip to main content

Extending surface life in airport applications

The US-based specialist Asphalt Systems Inc (ASI) says that if used properly, its GSB products can maintain asphalt pavement condition for decades. The company says that field trials and studies support the asphalt life extension claims for the product. During the 1990s, an ASI GSB sealer was evaluated through two independent field trials in Oregon – Portland International Airport (PDX) and Mulino State Airport (4S9). In both cases, the sealer was applied as a part of a preventive maintenance programme, and
October 1, 2018 Read time: 3 mins
Using the ASI product is said to have increased asphalt pavement life in field trials at various US airports
The US-based specialist Asphalt Systems Inc (ASI) says that if used properly, its GSB products can maintain asphalt pavement condition for decades. The company says that field trials and studies support the asphalt life extension claims for the product. During the 1990s, an ASI GSB sealer was evaluated through two independent field trials in Oregon – Portland International Airport (PDX) and Mulino State Airport (4S9). In both cases, the sealer was applied as a part of a preventive maintenance programme, and long-term performance was monitored. The data for PDX Taxiway C showed that the GSB product was able to maintain the taxiway pavement for the trial period of eight years. Performance data of the Mulino runway trial showed that the GSB sealer kept the runway in condition for 10 years by interrupting ageing, including stopping ravelling and weathering.


Other airport runway examples of ongoing and effective pavement preservation include Blanding Municipal Airport (BDG) in Utah, which has had four treatments of GSB-88 over the past 26 years. The runway pavement at Central Colorado Regional Airport (AEJ) in Buena Vista is 22 years old, and has had three treatments of GSB-88. PCI data on this airfield from the CoDOT Division of Aeronautics website shows that the pavement has remained in good condition.

Navy Facilities Command (NAVFAC) pavement specialists have performed a long-term evaluation of 1 million m2 of GSB applications on widely varying military airfield pavements and climates. In addition, the MicroPAVER data for 883 treated municipal airfield pavements across multiple climatic zones was critically evaluated. In both cases, the results of the evaluation were positive and demonstrated significant life extension. An effective pavement preservation material, GSB-88 can also help rebinding ravelling pavements, which can mitigate asphalt-based foreign object debris (FOD). GSB-88’s ability to extend the useful life of asphalt airfield pavements is generally between 25-50% with a single application.

Gilsonite, an integral component of ASI’s GSB products, is a naturally occurring asphaltite found in Utah. GSB products comprise a mixture of Gilsonite, specially selected plasticisers and oils that penetrate and reintroduce essential binders into the pavement matrix. They are designed to mitigate the impacts of surface oxidation and moisture damage on asphalt pavements, halting deterioration and sealing the surface to help repel water.

Related Content

  • New tests for modified bitumens and mixes with RAP
    December 19, 2014
    This month we learn about a new test which is helping to predict the performance of asphalt mixtures containing recycled materials and modifiers, and we showcase some of the new testing equipment recently launched - writes Kristina Smith Researchers in the US have come up with a new test to help owners and contractors better predict the performance of their roads. “The problem is that the current tests cannot determine the performance of new materials,” said Dr Haleh Azari, manager of the AASHTO Advanced P
  • Balanced Mix Design in the US could revolutionise pavement design and testing
    April 30, 2018
    Roads in the US keep failing so the Federal Highways Authority is proposing a new approach to mix design, but what does this mean for tests and testing? - Kristina Smith reports How do you test an asphalt mix for rutting? In the US, the answer could be any one of several tests, depending on which State you are in: Asphalt Pavement Analyser, Flow Number, Hamburg Wheel Tracking Test, Superpave Shear Test or Triaxial Stress Sweep Test. But that could all change. The Federal Highways Agency (FHWA), part of
  • Arizona Chemical additive rejuvenates extra-hard reclaimed asphalt
    November 25, 2016
    Arizona Chemical and Eurovia report that they have successfully used reclaimed asphalt that was specified as too hard for re-use on high-value road applications.
  • Iterchimica trials G+ graphene modifier from Directa Plus
    February 7, 2020
    UK village gets trial paving of a super modifier containing graphene.