Skip to main content

South Korean technology for thin overlays

South Korean company Hansoo Road Industry has developed an ultra-thin hot mix asphalt pavement layer, Recover asphalt, designed to overlay cracked pavements at a depth of between 10 and 20mm. “Our company has been studying asphalt modifiers since 1999 and has know-how on research and development of asphalt modifiers,” said Yulia Min, manager at Hansoo Road Industry. “Recover asphalt was developed through a four-year study based on the previous studies of asphalt modifier technology.” Recover asphalt has
May 15, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
Hansoo Road Industry’s Recover asphalt is a 2cm-thick overlay, which can be installed over cracked roads
South Korean company Hansoo Road Industry has developed an ultra-thin hot mix asphalt pavement layer, Recover asphalt, designed to overlay cracked pavements at a depth of between 10 and 20mm.


“Our company has been studying asphalt modifiers since 1999 and has know-how on research and development of asphalt modifiers,” said Yulia Min, manager at Hansoo Road Industry. “Recover asphalt was developed through a four-year study based on the previous studies of asphalt modifier technology.”

Recover asphalt has been used on national, local and urban roads in Korea since 2016 after the produce received its patent. It is currently undergoing tests and trials in China and Europe, says Min.

Recover asphalt is created by adding pellets containing CSM Modifier to the asphalt plant. Based on microfibres, the modifier contains additives which give elasticity and ductility to the asphalt mixtures at both low and high temperatures.

Min says that asphalt mixtures containing the modifier show “excellent plastic deformation resistance which can increase the performance of the asphalt pavement”. Because the small size of the aggregates in Recover asphalt, a maximum of 5mm, the overlay is used in downtown areas to reduce noise levels from road pavements. Hansoo said that over 8dB noise reduction is achieved, when compared to the existing, aged pavement with up to 12dB reduction observed for some roads.

Related Content

  • Multitask additive B2last® for road pavement from BASF
    September 1, 2023
    In 2020, BASF launched their brand-new additive for warm mix asphalt, B2Last®, a new liquid modifier in both Europe and in the USA. By chemically modifying the asphalt binder, BASF developed an innovative solution for the paving industry. After nearly four years of field usage and trials in different regions, B2Last has proven to be an efficient and cost-effective way to modify bitumen.
  • Asphalt plants reduce emissions, increase efficiency
    February 20, 2012
    Solutions for a reduction in emissions, recycling and more efficiency are being introduced by major asphalt plant manufacturers as Patrick Smith reports. The demand to reduce all types of emissions and increase the use of recycled material has put pressure on industry to come up with answers, and asphalt production is no exception.
  • Five roads of the future – cutting transport costs
    June 10, 2019
    Advances in road design and construction will deliver cost savings In the past 50 years there have been huge advancements in the automobile industry but the roads we drive on remain nearly unchanged. As cars get smarter so too should the infrastructure that supports them. Our planet is covered in roads. And by 2050 our global network of highways is projected to increase by 60%. Volvo Construction Equipment takes a look at possible technologies for the roads of the future, looking at some innovations
  • Arizona Chemical study reveals lower CO2 footprint with RAP additive
    May 18, 2015
    A life-cycle assessment has found that an asphalt mix containing a high percentage of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) along with an additive by Arizona Chemical can produce a significantly lower carbon footprint than virgin asphalt mix or a mix containing a low percentage of RAP. The assessment study was carried out by third party Arthur D. Little, an international management consulting firm, using Arizona Chemical’s SYLVAROAD RP 1000 performance additive. The work noted that cradle-to-gate, a road aspha