The asphalt testing machines provide a solution for the whole “asphaltic path”: mixing, compacting, modeling and testing. The equipment meets the needs of those who want to perform quality control or experimentation of new asphalt mixtures.
Pavetest’s range of pavement dynamic testing systems both complements and completes Matest’s Asphalt and Bitumen business unit. All our products comply with the main international standards.
Mixing
The Superpave mix design requires the mixing of various sizes of aggregates with bitumen, additives and possibly other synthetic resins. The bituminous mixture is prepared at a target temperature within a time that is limited in order to reduce mechanical degradation of the aggregates. The target temperature depends on the grade of bitumen as well as on the type of mixture to be obtained.
Matest offers a wide range of Laboratory Mixers capable of coating all coarse and fine aggregates by controlling temperature and mixing speed.
Binder Content – Bitumen Extraction
The determination of binder content of bituminous mixtures is one of the major properties that affect pavement performance. The binder content affects the pavement’s tendency to permanent deformation, fatigue cracking and moisture damage.
The binder content can be determined by ignition method and hot/cold extraction. However due to environmental, economical, health and safety concerns, Matest investigated alternative methods to determine binder content developing innovative devices that combine all the processes associated with bitumen extraction and recovery.
Compaction
Asphalt mixture compaction is an important procedure of asphalt mixture construction and can significantly affect the performance of asphalt pavement. Inadequate compaction results in low density and consequently low stiffness, reduced fatigue life, accelerated aging, rutting and moisture damage. On the contrary, adequate compaction of asphalt is essential to ensure the design performance of the mix and expected service life of the pavement.
Marshall evolved through the decades into methods that better reproduce real paving. Matest Gyratory, Roller and Shear compactors are designed to comply present requirements and build future paving technologies.
Specimen Preparation
The correct preparation of the specimens plays a fundamental role to perform reliable performance testing. Sample preparation is particularly critical when asphalt mix has to be evaluated under advanced tests.
Laboratory Analysis
Matest takes into account the new Superpave performance-based approach to measures physical properties that can be directly related to field performance, using engineering principles.
In this prospective, Matest produces a wide range of machines and accessories for evaluating the mechanical behavior of asphalt mixtures and bitumen in compliance with the EN, ASTM and AASHTO standards.
Pavetest – Static and Dynamic
Pavetest’s range of pavement dynamic testing systems both complements and completes Matest’s Asphalt and Bitumen business unit. All our products comply with the principal international standards.
Test on Site
The long-term performance of road pavements depends on the construction quality of the newly paved sections. It is very important, in every road pavement, to keep under control the parameters that guarantee its performance characteristics.
Matest machines can perform different kind of “in situ” road tests, such as:
- determination of the “in situ” density
- determination of the deflection of foundations and road paving by “Benkelmann beam”
- detection of the micro and macro-texture conditions of a road surface
