SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH – Gilsonite-based GSB-78® sealcoating product from Asphalt Systems Inc. (ASI) allows busy airports to reduce the hours they must shut down for pavement maintenance work. The treatment can be applied at night or during the daytime, when only short construction windows are available. A long-lasting, predictable, rapid-curing sealer that delivers exceptional results on a wide variety of pavement types, GSB-78® allows airports to continue operations during the sealcoating process, with minimal shutdown time. When combined with a top coat of airport-grade aggregate, GSB-78® quickly cures to traffic readiness in cool climate conditions, including nighttime temperatures. With typical pavement and weather conditions, the treatment has successfully met FAA friction requirements in as little as 2-3 hours. Both sealcoat and aggregate are applied in a single pass system using industry-standard equipment with minor modifications. The treatment provides excellent asphalt-based FOD mitigation and stops surface oxidation.
A number factors must come together for a nighttime aviation sealcoating project to succeed — the most important being the ability to safely land aircraft within a few hours of the treatment application. GSB-78® is ASI’s original pavement preservation product, with more than 40 years of proven performance on city streets, county roads, and airfields. When combined with the specified aggregate, it is similar to FAA P-608 treatments commonly applied at airports, with a couple of key differences: It is carried by petroleum distillates and it contains more of the active ingredient, Gilsonite. The treatment penetrates into the pavement surface, restoring the surface binder. As it chemically breaks and cures, typically in 2 hours, it rebinds the surface aggregate and prevents the pavement from drying out — sealing and enhancing the natural oils and resins necessary for surface flexibility and stability.
“The benefit of reduced closure time for an airport is immense, especially as it relates to revenue. A standard sealcoating or maintenance project often requires the airport to completely close for days — with small airports sometimes closing for weeks.” notes John Hunter, Aviation Division for ASI. “By using a nighttime pavement preservation treatment, the airport can maintain reasonable hours, continue to sell fuel, etc., with minimal impact to airport operations.”
Why Pavement Preservation?
According to FAA pavement subject matter experts, 70% to 90% of asphalt deterioration and failure are the result of exposure to the environment leading to degradation of the asphalt binder. Further, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, CEERD-GM-A, states that “…many sources estimate that approximately 90% of distress on asphalt concrete airfield pavements are environmental related.” Pavement preservation treatments restore pavement surface conditions and protect the underlying pavement, which can increase a pavement’s lifecycle and defer the need for expensive rehabilitation or reconstruction. Throughout its 40-plus-year history, GSB-78® has demonstrated the ability to greatly reduce and prevent the detrimental effects of surface oxidation caused by standard environmental influences.
Why This Treatment for Nighttime Sealing?
1. Safe. The treatment typically cures within 2-3 hours to pass FAA friction requirements, allowing the contractor time to apply temporary striping before reopening, if required.
2. Proven. The treatment has been applied on runways in numerous successful nighttime aviation projects, with pavements released to contractors by airport authorities around midnight, treatment applied, and pavements reopened by 6:00 a.m. for air traffic.
3. Effective. The treatment cures quickly in the cooler temperatures common to overnight runway projects. GSB products provide excellent asphalt-based FOD mitigation and stop surface oxidation.
4. Easy to apply. The treatment can be applied using a standard distributor truck with minor modifications.
Gilsonite, an integral component of ASI’s GSB products, is a unique, naturally occurring resinous asphalt ore found in Utah that does not have to undergo an oil refining process. GSB products comprise a mixture of Gilsonite, specially selected plasticizers and oils that penetrate and reintroduce essential binders into the pavement matrix. They are designed to mitigate the impacts of surface oxidation and moisture damage on asphalt pavements, halting deterioration and sealing the surface to help repel water. The product also helps prevent surface raveling.
Asphalt Systems, Inc.® (ASI), based in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been in the sole business of manufacturing performance-driven asphalt preservation products for more than 40 years. ASI products are used by cities, counties, state government agencies, the civil aviation industry and military customers throughout the United States and abroad. For more information, please call 801-972-2757, email info@asphaltsystemsinc.com or visit www.asphaltsystemsinc.com.
PAVIX: Proven Winner for All Airport Concrete Infrastructure
International Chem-Crete Corporation (ICC) manufactures and sells PAVIX, a unique line of crystalline waterproofing products that penetrate into the surface of cured concrete to fill and seal pores and capillary voids, creating a long lasting protective zone within the concrete substrate.
Once concrete is treated, water is prevented from penetrating through this protective zone and causing associated damage, such as freeze-thaw cracking, reinforcing steel corrosion, chloride ion penetration, and ASR related cracking.
This white paper discusses how the PAVIX CCC100 technology works and its applications.