Local polymer road solution company Romix has developed products that improve the performance of load-bearing and wear layers of roads while reducing the costs of construction and the impact on the environment, says Romix Africa MD Vijian Naidoo.

“Our soil-fix product is used in a liquid form during the construction of the bearing courses of roads. The product penetrates and binds the soil, replacing aggregate layers. We have also developed a wearing-course product that is used above the bearing layer to improve wear resistance.”

The SoilFix bearing-course product allows for the binding of most soil particles. No supplementary aggregate is necessary if the required plasticity index range required by the road is between 3 and 18. If below 3, the soil can be modified using higher clay-content material, and, if above 18, it can be modified by adding nonplastic, sandy material.

This means that most in-situ materials can be used directly, eliminating the need to transport alternatives to site, he says.

Romix does not produce products that replace bitumen on wearing courses. The polymer products help to reduce the costs of roads, as well as improve their durability and ease of construction, he explains.

The road products eliminate the need for concrete, even on heavy-duty roads and, thereby, reduce the costs of building such roads, adds Naidoo.

The liquid polymers are easy to apply and the products can be used any type of road, while it is also easy to train local people to use the product, he explains.

Additionally, specific design requirements of roads, such as main freight and trade arterials or low volume and rural roads, can also be met using Romix products.

Further, tarred roads can be rehabilitated with the use of the polymer products and help to reduce the costs of rehabilitation.

Meanwhile, a pothole-repair product, Roadsaver, which is distributed by Romix, has building materials standards body Agrément certification. The company is pursuing further certification of its products, he says.

The Romix black top asphalt product was developed as an alternative to hot asphalt and is suitable for remote areas or where there are not any hot asphalt plants. The solution is mixed with stone and crusher dust, and can be stockpiled under plastic sheets. It can be laid by hand or using machines, he adds.

Further, the road seal product is a resin interim wearing-course seal for low-traffic roads, as well as an inexpensive sealer for mine haul roads. Maintenance sprays every six months are required for heavy-traffic loads. The sealant is applied directly onto the SoilFix base layer and is an effective dust palliative.

The natural seal product maintains a road surface’s aesthetic appeal. The clear sealant provides the appearance of a gravel road, but ensures the performance of an asphalt road surface. It is used for roads in nature reserves and at game lodges. It limits dust and provides a mud-free surface in wet conditions.

Naidoo declines to detail the polymers, noting only that Romix’s intellectual property and competitive advantage are tied to its chemical polymer “cocktail”, which is delivered to site and mixed with water before application.

Story highlights:

* Polymer road bearing-course solution helps to reduce construction costs.

* The company has developed an asphalt replacement product, which can be laid by hand or machines.