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Excel Fibre Modifier Enhances Anti-skid Road Surfaces
Date: 27 July 2004

Excel Fibre Technology has developed a fibre modifier for anti-skid road surfaces, leading to increased road safety and longevity of the anti-skid layer. Working in conjunction with the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Excel’s fibre modifier has been extensively tested in epoxy resin/calcined bauxite skid resistant systems, demonstrating its ability to prevent drainage of the laid anti-skid surface, increase the toughness and durability of the anti-skid surface and create an even stronger bond between the anti-skid surface and the wearing course than previously.

Originally introduced in the 1960s, these, usually, buff-coloured, high-friction, skid resistant surfaces are becoming increasingly used on the UK road network. Typically sited on approaches to roundabouts and road junctions, on dangerous bends and on approaches to traffic lights/pedestrian crossings, the anti-skid sections greatly increase the stopping ability of vehicles on the road, especially in wet or damp conditions.

However, the more recent introduction of quieter road surfaces in the form of thin surfacing systems and stone mastic asphalts (SMA), has adversely affected the performance of some anti-skid surfaces. The reason for this is that the beneficial reduced noise characteristics these road surfaces exhibit result from relatively deep pores in the wearing course surface, but these pores can also result in the binder from any applied chemically-curing, high-friction surfacing draining into them, thereby reducing the effectiveness and longevity of the anti-skid surface.

Excel’s trials with TRL (with assistance from Babtie) were commissioned to investigate the efficacy of cellulose fibres in epoxy resin/calcined bauxite skid resistant systems. In these systems epoxy resin is spread on the road surface and then calcined bauxite stone is added. Once the system has cured, the excess calcined bauxite is removed from the surface. Calcined bauxite is used due to its high PSV (polished stone value) – the higher the PSV, the higher the skid resistance.

In comparing the performance of the fibre-modified anti-skid surface against a non-modified ‘control’ sample, TRL found that the modified surface demonstrated a mean erosion index of zero when subjected to a ‘scuffing’ trial, compared with a value of 12.5 for the non-modified version. At the end of the trial, the control sample (no fibre added) showed a 53.3% loss in texture depth, whereas in the Excel-modified sample only a 32% loss in texture depth occurred.

In a ‘resistance to peeling’ test, all failures with the fibre addition occurred in the substrate and not at the substrate/surfacing interface.

For the trials fibre was added at a rate of 2% w/w of epoxy resin addition. The resin was applied at 1.8kg/m². The control test was performed using epoxy resin at 2.2kg/m².

In conclusion, the TRL determined that the addition of Excel’s fibre modifier to the anti-skid surface produced three significant benefits: a more hard wearing skid resistant surface, less drainage of resin, and increased resin coverage.

Excel Fibre Technology, a division of Excel Industries Limited of Rhymney in Gwent, is the UK’s leading manufacturer of speciality fibres and fibre delivery systems. In addition to Viscocel SMA fibre and pellets and the SMART range of refibreising systems, Excel manufactures a range of products for use in varied industrial applications as well as the building and construction industry.