Ooms India, a subsidiary of a Dutch multinational company with 100 years history, is one of IndiaÂ’s major processor of SBS Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), CRMB and Asphalt Reinforcement Interlayer (ARI) including GlasGrid and SAMI. With plants located at Chennai, Mumbai and Kosi (Mathura), OomsÂ’ PMB has been used for construction of international airports of Bangalore, Hyderabad and Delhi, Formula 1 race Track, Bandra-Worli Sea Link and hundreds of kilometres of roads all over India. OomsÂ’ PMB has been used in wearing course of NH5, Chennai-Tada, 56 km (2003-04) and Faizabad-Bahraich, 109 km, SH (2004-05). The condition of these highways is excellent even after 7-8 years.
Directions from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORT&H) has directed for extensive use of modified bitumen in wearing as well as binder course. OomsÂ’ product conforms the following publications goverÂning the use of modified bitumen: IRC SP 53 1999, 2002, 2010; IS 15462 2004; and MORT&H specs clause 521.
Life cycle cost: Cost of ‘wearing course’ is 10 per cent that of road. Bitumen contributes around 50 per cent to it. Ooms’ PMB as per Indian specs costs 30-50 per cent more than bitumen. Therefore, the use of PMB increases the cost of wearing course by 15 per cent and of the road by 1.5 per cent. However, the service life may increase by 50-100 per cent or the road will last up to 6-8 years against 3-5 years. Advanced Ooms’ PMB may increase the life from 5 to 12 years with increase in cost of road <3 per cent.
ARI for reflective cracks: ARI can effectively arrest reflective cracks on pavement laid over a cracked surface. Use of GlasGrid and ARI can also increase axle passes by 3 to 5 times. ARI is extremely cost effective as its cost is equivalent to 15 to 25mm of bituminous concrete. GlasGrid and SAMI dissipate crack energy along the strands arreÂsting the upward move of crack. The Glasgrid®, a Saint Gobain product, is available in rolls of 100 Mx 1.5 M. ‘OomsÂ’ are the sole distributer for this product in India and many other countries.
Quality of PMB: All modified bitumen are not the same. Efficacy and performance of each is different in a given climatic condition and traffic regime. Polymer ModiÂfied bitumen processed with Styrene ButaÂdiene Styrene (SBS) polymer, through an established proÂceÂss and proÂven technology, is most suitable for Indian conditions.
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