AMAP Holds First Educational Workshop

The Association of Modified Asphalt Producers (AMAP) held its first Educational Workshop, March 14-15, in Williamsburg, VA. Nearly 100 registered attendees that included AMAP Members, non-members, academia, and government agencies came together to enhance their industry knowledge.

Aaron Roy, Education Committee Chair, spent many hours putting together this Educational Workshop together and having top industry leaders educate those in attendance. During the morning of March 15, attendees were provided the opportunity to attended two different tracks that included a track on mixes and a track on modifications.

This first track was Modification 101. Bob Kluttz, Kraton Polymers, provided an introduction of modified asphalt. Codrin Daranga, Paragon Technical Services, follow up by presenting on asphalt binder chemistry. Kluttz then gave attendees an overview on polymers. Binder testing was presented by Farhad Rad with Anton Paar. Steven Loeffler PRI Asphalt Technologies, shared information on AMAP common modifiers. Lastly, Aaron Roy, Nouryon, presented on AMAP modified emulsions.

The second track was Mixes 101. To start, Gray Fitts, Kraton Polymers, presented on the basics of LCCA. Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT) Candice Entwisle presented on mix design which was then followed by Stacey Diefendderfer, VDOT, sharing additional information on balanced mix design. Mike Worden, Associated Asphalt, presented on handling and laydown. It was then followed by Trey Wurst, Ingevity, providing information on warm mix additives. Lastly, Tom Bennert, Rutgers University, shared information on field performance.

During the afternoon, attendees came together for a General Session. To start, attendees heard from Jhony Habbouche, VDOT, on how VDOT is using additives. Roy followed with information on pavement preservation. With sustainability a key topic in the industry, Everett Crews, Ingevity, provided an overview of what sustainability means including LCAs and EPDs. Katrina Mangiaracina, Ingevity, took attendees into a further deep dive of additives. Lastly, AMAP President Kevin McGlumphy, Associated Asphalt, closed the Workshop with an open discussion and attendee participation on field performance.

The Educational Workshop could not have been made possible without its generous sponsors that included BASF, Ingevity, and Innophos.

Make sure to mark your calendars for the AMAP 2023 Annual Conference & Workshop, October 17-19, in Jacksonville, FL. Registration is slated to open mid-summer.