A new technical review based on more than 30 years of Nordic field data shows that pavements using polymer-modified bitumen consistently achieve longer service life and improved durability.
The recently published report from Nynas, Field Performance of Polymer Modified Bitumen – Technical Industry Review, brings together three decades of field data and results from a wide range of studies, bridge applications and statistical analyses carried out across the Nordic region.
The review shows that using polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) – a type of asphalt binder enhanced with polymers to improve durability and flexibility – can significantly extend service life.
“Across multiple studies and decades of field performance data, we see that well-designed PMB systems can deliver measurable durability gains under demanding Nordic conditions,” says Nynas Chief Scientist Xiaohu Lu, one of the report’s co-authors. “Extending pavement service life is one of the most effective ways to reduce the lifecycle impact of road infrastructure.”
Durability is an important sustainability advantage, as longer-lasting pavements require fewer maintenance interventions, reducing material consumption, traffic disruption and associated emissions over the infrastructure lifecycle.
Norwegian field studies included in the report showed that sections using PMB experienced up to 40% less rutting after nine years compared with reference sections using conventional binders. In certain heavily trafficked Swedish projects, predicted pavement lifetime increased from 10–12 years to more than 40 years when PMB was used.
Despite documented performance benefits, PMB currently only accounts for an estimated 10–15% of asphalt production in Scandinavia, compared with around 30% in other European markets. Nynas Bitumen Technical Manager Jenny-Ann Östlund, co-author of the report, believes the review can serve as a practical reference for infrastructure stakeholders evaluating long-term material choices.
“While PMB typically involves higher initial costs, that up-front investment yields long-term sustainability gains over the entire life cycle,” she says. “Our data helps clarify how extending service life can be one of the most effective ways to reduce the lifecycle impact in road construction.”
The full technical review is available for download HERE.
(Picture: Nynas)
