Recent Press Releases

Excel Brings Viscocel to Hillhead: 28 March 2007
Helping to Make Carbon Neutral Homes A Reality: 27 February 2007
Warmcel brings Zero Heat to Ecobuild 2007: 27 February 2007
Excel Safeguards Quality with New Assurance Scheme: 26 January 2007
Insulation of Choice for Green Self Builders: 18 December 2006
Excel Reports Export Success: 29 November 2006

Press Release Archive...

For Further Press information, please contact:
Chris Hamer at Triangle PR
0161 873 8009
chris.hamer@trianglepr.co.uk

Excel Launches Binder-free Fibre Pellet Bitumen Modifier
Date: 22 April 2003

Excel Fibre Technology has launched Viscocel 500 SMA pellets, a binder-free fibre-based bitumen modifier in an easy-to-handle pellet format. Excel’s fibre pellets provide improved performance over coated pellets, while requiring a lower addition rate and shorter mixing times for full dispersion.

Developed to deliver the benefits of Excel’s industry-leading and HAPAS-approved loose fibre bitumen modifier, Viscocel 500 pellets are designed to be used in conjunction with the company’s patented SMART range of bespoke refibreising systems to maintain the performance characteristics of loose fibre, including fast and even dispersion, and high levels of consistency for optimum bitumen performance.

Viscocel 500 does not rely on a binder to hold the fibre together in pellet form. This delivers cleaner handling along with greater reliability and consistency of dispersion in the SMA mix, since Viscocel 500 pellets do not rely on the binder melting before dispersion can take place. This avoids ‘clumping’ in the mix and/or longer mixing times.

Once dispersed in the SMA, Viscocel 500 fibres hold the bitumen in place by creating a lattice, which binds the material together, enhancing the bitumen’s ability to adhere to the stone aggregate.

Viscocel 500’s performance results from the closely controlled manufacturing process that ensures correctly engineered fibres are produced batch after batch and that these fibres are precisely pelletised so that they hold firmly together during handling and transportation, but break up and disperse readily prior to being added to the SMA mix. This results in superb consistency across the laid road surface and, consequently, a repeatable high level of performance.

The lattice created by Viscocel 500’s long, interwoven fibres gives the SMA more elasticity, making it less brittle and more able to withstand continual heavy loading.

Independent trials, undertaken by Scott Wilson Pavement Engineering and the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL) on SMAs manufactured using Viscocel fibre, show that Viscocel SMAs also exhibit superior stiffness and, therefore, improved load spreading ability, along with a greater capacity to hold bitumen in position around the stone aggregate. This is particularly important in thin pavement structures, where the benefits associated with thinner road coverings are complemented by excellent durability and longevity.

The patented SMART range of pellet refibreising systems offers maximum flexibility to tailor the fibre delivery system to the needs of existing SMA manufacturing facilities. Designed for use with Viscocel 500 binder-free fibre pellets, the SMART system quickly and effectively converts pellets into loose, open fibre which is then added to the SMA mix in a continuous, seamless process.

SMART systems offer a range of standardised hopper configurations to create a dedicated handling and refibreising unit that takes into account throughput rates, storage capabilities, working practices and existing plant equipment and infrastructure.