Asphalt as abstract background or backdrop

ELVALOY™ Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymers

ELVALOY™ Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymer (RET) polymer modified binders enable tougher, more sustainable paving. They meet the needs of planners seeking solutions to increased traffic, decaying infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, and more frequent road repairs. And for aggregate industries and pavers, they provide smooth, long-lasting and more sustainable pavement.

Polymer modified asphalt (PMA) is a widely used, successful solution for making better pavement. For decades, ELVALOY™ Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymer (RET) products have been offering excellent performance and processing, greater service life and the potential for lower life cycle costs compared to conventional, neat asphalt.

ELVALOY™ RET creates a permanently improved binder, delivering long-lasting performance in well-engineered pavements—meaning it can offer a higher total value from its extended service life and reduce the need to disrupt traffic prematurely.

ELVALOY™ Reactive Elastomeric Terpolymers

View the ELVALOY™ RET portfolio of products.

Winding black asphalt pavement with yellow road markings in the middle of pine forest

Roads & Intersections

Improve the binder at a molecular level with ELVALOY™ RET, which helps roads and intersections stay smoother, safer and more resistant.

Aerial landscape photograph of highway cloverleaf

Expressways

Handle highway traffic better and for longer with improved binder performance with ELVALOY™ RET.

Airplane taking off from the airport. 3d render and illustration.

Airports

Achieve smoother, longer-lasting airport runways, taxiways and related pavements with ELVALOY™ RET.

Side of the road showing asphalt and grass

Recycled polymer modified asphalt (RPMA)

Add post-consumer recycled (PCR) content to the mix. Modify your base asphalt binder with recycled content and ELVALOY™ RET for improved performance.

ELVALOY™ RET success stories 

Explore locations around the world where ELVALOY™ RET is helping improve asphalt performance.

Performance of ELVALOY™ RET versus SBS 

Extensive test data is available from third parties, including government agencies, industry groups and universities, demonstrating that ELVALOY™ RET has equivalent or improved performance vs. styrene butadiene styrene (SBS) modified asphalt at lower dosages. ELVALOY™ RET slows down pavement deformation and resists damage from extreme temperatures and moisture, making it an investment for the long-term.

Let’s compare the differences in detail. 

The differences between ELVALOY™ RET and SBS begin with basic polymer chemistry and handling properties.

ELVALOY™ RETStyrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS) 
Specifically engineered for  asphalt modificationDeveloped in the 1950s as a replacement for rubber 
Storage-stability, because ELVALOY™ RET chemically links with asphalt Susceptible to separation from the asphalt 
Can be winter-filled and stored for reheating and use later on Not recommended for winter-filling 
Only low shear mixing is necessary High-shear mill required for mixing at increased capital and maintenance costs 
Delivered as a free-flowing pellet which results in easy handling Not as easily handled 

Typical values, not to be construed as specifications. Users should confirm results by their own tests.

*Asphalt is defined as bitumen or binder

ELVALOY™ RET MF 1177 wins Edison and R&D 100 Awards

ELVALOY RET has won both the 2022 R&D 100 Award and the 2023 Gold Edison Award in the Circular Economy Category. A dual achievement, this shows how it not only facilitates the diversion of plastic waste from landfills, but also enhances road quality by harnessing the advantages of recycled plastics.

 

The unique chemical composition of ELVALOY™ RET MF 1177 reactively modifies asphalt to enhance rutting and cracking resistance while compatibilizing hard-to-recycle polyethylene-rich streams into asphalt. The result is improved and mechanically resilient roads. Equally important, it allows plastic waste to be diverted from landfills and incorporated into pavement for enhanced long-term resilience with increased resistance to climate conditions. This “win-win” situation points toward smooth traveling ahead. 

ER/Edison Award logos

Terminal operators and paving contractors can also benefit from successful ELVALOY™ RET asphalt modifier technology.

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ELVALOY™ RETStyrene Butadiene Styrene (SBS)
Lower processing, storage, mixing, and compaction temperatures Higher storage, mixing and compaction temperatures
Less energy use in mix plant More energy use in the mix plant
Less likely to have smoking issues More likely to have emissions (smoking) from the mix plant if extra additives are applied 
Faster compaction to meet required densities which requires less equipment and more rapid opening to traffic Longer compaction times, and long lane closures; harder to construct due to ever-increasing night and weekend paving windows 
Lower processing temperatures, resulting in reduced emissions and fewer odor complaints More likely to result in complaints to authorities from workers and the public about fumes 
Fewer complaints from job site neighbors More likely to have fumes at the paving train due to higher temperatures
Increased workability for paving crews who quickly realize ELVALOY™ RET paves like neat asphalt Harder for crews without PMA experience to use; Can cause significant paving issues, particularly for highly-modified asphalt mixes 

Typical values, not to be construed as specifications. Users should confirm results by their own tests. 

*Asphalt is defined as bitumen or binder 

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Let’s explore together how these resins could work for your demanding needs.

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