Associated Asphalt has completed a case study documenting PennDOT’s 5-year work plan to investigate the use of void-reducing asphalt membrane (VRAM) for longitudinal joints and extending the life of asphalt pavement.
It is great when a performance product developed for a particular industry crosses over to solve problems in another. Such is the case with our fuel-resistant asphalt binder, StellarFlex FR®, originally designed and developed for airfield pavements. We completed a project in October 2021 for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services, paving Agricultural Inspection Station No. 6A on Interstate 10 in Live Oak.
You may be wondering, “Why would an asphalt binder designed for airfields be chosen for an agricultural inspection station?” Good question, and thanks for asking!
First, airfields experience pavement issues due to spills of aviation fuel and hydraulic oil as well as leakage from heavy, slow-moving, or stopped aircraft. These conditions make airfield pavement highly susceptible to fatigue (cracking) resistance and durability. Our StellarFlex FR® was originally designed as a solution to combat the negative effects of petroleum, resist damage from jet fuel, hydraulic oil, as well as provide longer pavement life with reduced rutting and cracking compared to traditional asphalt.
Agricultural inspection stations, if you aren’t familiar, are configured similarly to truck weigh stations and include on- and off-ramps from a highway as well as a manned booth where drivers stop and are sometimes pulled aside for inspection. This creates similar conditions found on airfield taxiways: loaded trucks of livestock, agricultural, and horticultural products moving slowly or stopped, creating stressful conditions for pavement.
In order to prevent premature degradation caused by vehicles that may leak fuel, as well as farm animal waste as livestock are transported into the state, we provided over 150 tons of StellarFlex FR® (PG 82-22FR) that was used as the asphalt binder component of this FDOT-approved mix design and placed as the final surface layer of the pavement rehabilitation project. Our partner on this project, Anderson Columbia Company, was integral in the production and placement of the mix.
Do you have a project where you may use a coal tar sealer to provide fuel resistance over your asphalt pavement? If so, you may want to consider StellarFlex FR® and get fuel protection built into your pavement, plus get greater resistance to rutting and cracking than traditional asphalt mixes. StellarFlex FR® has been used for airports, bus lanes, fuel storage, and containment areas, fueling stations, truck stops, port facilities, and horse-drawn carriage routes. Contact us and we can discuss whether StellarFlex FR® could extend the life and reduce maintenance for your asphalt pavement application.
When Kubota needed pavement as durable as their equipment, what did they select for construction of their Test Track and Skid Pad in Gainesville, GA? Associated Asphalt’s proven and high-performing polymer-modified binder (PMB) PG 82-22.
Earlier this year, Associated Asphalt partnered with C.W. Matthews to construct (Kubota Manufacturing of America) KMA’s Test Track and Skid Pad where tractors, utility vehicles, and heavy equipment are tested. The pavement selected must withstand harsh testing conditions.
Our specially formulated PG 82-22 binder, similar to what we have used for race tracks, is able to ensure durability and longevity of the pavement due to its really high softening point specification. This is critical to keep the aggregate from raveling or separating when subjected to the friction of the equipment, which could lead to premature failure.
Associated Asphalt supplied over 250 tons of PG binder to C.W. Matthew’s Gainesville Asphalt Plant. Allied Paving placed the special 12.5 mm mix. A test strip was laid on September 28, 2021, in order to ensure volumetric properties and compaction were in compliance. The project was completed in early October.
Our PG 82-22 is one of many polymer-modified asphalts and binders that have demonstrated success in projects along the East Coast, ranging from bridge decks to longitudinal joint solutions to fuel resistant asphalts. Contact us to learn more about our solutions for extending the life of your asphalt pavement projects.
For more than 70 years, our company has been supplying liquid asphalt to customers seeking quality materials for a variety of projects. While our history is rich in the asphalt industry, there are other ventures from our past that are well worth looking back on.
“If you know from whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.” – James Baldwin
We sat down with, CEO Bill Kirk, to take a trip down memory lane. After watching his father, J.W. Kirk Jr. lead the company and later joining the company in 1976, he’s seen Associated Asphalt adjust, innovate, and expand over the years.
Associated Asphalt was founded in 1948 under a very different name and offered a very different set of product and service offerings. As Fuel Oil & Equipment Company, Inc., they offered home heating oil delivery. Bill Adams, Carter Tate, and Gordon Mills jump started the business with the purchase of a 10,000 gallon storage tank at the same location our Roanoke Terminal is located today.
“The heating oil business was the new home heat after World War II, replacing coal,” says Bill, who still sits at Mr. Adams’ desk. “He wanted to find something to do for his people in the winter when the paving business slowed down.”
Around 1953, Fuel Oil’s offerings expanded from heating oil into the sale and distribution of liquid asphalt. Just like a winding road, the company saw many changes over the years. In 1956, they dabbled in the gasoline business by operating 9 gas stations. When Bill joined the company in 1976, he diversified the business even more with the establishment of 3 Chesapeake Bagel Bakery stores, the Pop Shop, and the establishment of the EZN convenience store brand.
By 1961, the company had offices in Roanoke, Richmond, and Bristol. Under the leadership of Bill Kirk, a second liquid asphalt terminal was acquired in Inman, SC in 1984. This was the start of a long road to becoming one of the largest liquid supply resellers in the United States.
“In the 90’s a lot of people were converting from heating oil to gas,” Bill remembers. “The convenience store business was good but it wasn’t our main revenue focus.”
After the purchase of a third terminal in Salisbury, NC, leadership made the decision in 1997 to divest the non-core business lines, selling the Fuel Oil & Equipment name, as well as the EZN stores, to focus on growth in the liquid asphalt industry. Shortly after, Associated Asphalt as we know it today was established.
“When I worked for Shell, I saw how the oil companies were starting to focus on refining the oil rather than direct marketing it,” says Bill. “I thought we could apply the same concept to liquid asphalt. We had different terminals in different states but they would all be associated with one another, so that’s how Associated Asphalt came about.”
In its final form as a liquid asphalt reseller, the leadership at Associated Asphalt set their sights on growth. Over the next two decades, the company would build or acquire terminals in West Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. After receiving outside investment, the footprint expanded into the North even further with the acquisition of Axeon Marketing. Today, there are 35 terminals strategically placed near railways and waterways for efficient transport. We are able to export liquid asphalt for projects overseas, provide third-party testing and research for our internal teams and partners, and provide efficient formulas for projects across the country.
That may be because Bill Kirk has made a point to maintain a company culture that still feels like family. Even though they’ve moved into the former Norfolk & Southern Building, the office still feels as tight knit as the little building they originally worked out of on Roanoke Avenue.
“We do our best to hire locally,” says Bill. “I’m proud that we’ve been able to bring jobs to our hometown and even bring in families.”
So what’s next for Associated Asphalt? Bill says they’ll continue to look for opportunities to formulate innovative products for the variety of markets they serve. They’re also eager to keep partnering with other asphalt formula companies and contractors around the world to provide long-lasting, quality asphalt.
If you’ve ever paid a visit to the historic St. Augustine, FL, it’s likely you’ve seen one of their famous horse-drawn carriage tours pass by. These rides allow visitors and residents to take in the stunning historic architecture and culture of the city from the comfort of an open air carriage. Riders rely on a smooth path to make the experience relaxing and enjoyable. Earlier this year, Associated Asphalt teamed up with Duval Asphalt and Asphalt Testing Solutions & Engineering to assure a smooth ride for passengers by repairing the deteriorated horse paths and providing protection from future rutting.
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In 2015, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) funded a maintenance project on State Route 5A to reduce rutting and smooth out the path where the horses and carriages had caused the most deterioration. Following the lead of Central Park’s application of a fuel-resistant binder for their own horse-drawn carriage paths, FDOT awarded Jacksonville’s Duval Asphalt the maintenance project to mill 1.5 inches of friction course and lay the new fuel-resistant mix.
In 2019, after proof that the fuel-resistant mix would hold up against the wear and tear of constant horse-drawn carriage traffic, a full reconstruction was ordered. Once again, the project was awarded to Duval Asphalt. Asphalt Testing Solutions & Engineering (ATS) was brought in to oversee quality control of the product mixing and placement.
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Historically, StellarFlex FR® is applied to airport landing strips and taxiways to provide fuel resistant protection. Because this paving project would need protection from the asphalt softening effect of horse urine, rather than jet fuel spills, specifications needed to be adjusted. Associated Asphalt worked with ATS to adjust the fuel-resistant mix to perform for FDOT and project specifications under the exposure of the animal waste and pressure of the thin carriage wheels. 350 tons of the fuel-resistant mix was applied to the horse paths. The reconstruction project is expected to last another 15 years before further maintenance is needed. With this new extended lifespan, the large investment in quality paving materials will prove to be the most economic solution in the long run.
Due to the unique nature of the project’s challenges and solutions, the St. Augustine collaboration has been spotlighted in multiple industry publications. To learn more about the project and hear from team members who worked directly on the project, check out these articles by AsphaltPro Magazine and Asphalt Pavement Digital.
Do you have a unique paving challenge? Become an Associated Asphalt Partner to help pave the way to success.
Over the past 70 years, Associated Asphalt has worked diligently to build a transportation network that allows us to provide convenient access to liquid asphalt supply throughout the Eastern United States. With multiple water-accessible terminals, we are unbound by the limitations of land transportation. For over 20 years, we’ve partnered with contractors overseas to export supply tanks on water vessels internationally.
Our sales and marketing team can work with partners to provide our wide variety of paving-grade polymer modified asphalts, emulsions, and tack coats. We also supply the equipment such as burners, pumps, hoses, and fittings that are all necessary for processing the asphalt onsite. All international partners can receive technical support to make sure the equipment is installed properly and the asphalt processed on spec.
“Our International business provides asphalt for everything from airports, new road construction to high school track and field surfaces,” says Chad Gemberling, Director of Sales & Marketing. “It’s exciting to see our asphalt set sail outside the US.”
Associated Asphalt ships tanks from our water accessible terminals in Florida and can transport the supply and equipment to any destination accessible by boat. We partner with contractors to set up their supply order and coordinate with a freight company of their choice for pick up. Associated Asphalt values these growing relationships in markets outside of the traditional space and is committed to continuing to provide quality products and consultation for their unique needs. We look forward to helping improve the quality and sustainability of infrastructure around the world.
If you would like to learn more about how Associated Asphalt can fulfill the needs of your international project, contact a representative today.
While airport taxiways may not experience the same volume of traffic as a highway road, the heavy load of jumbo jets combined with the damaging properties of jet fuel can lead to extensive cracking and rutting – reducing the lifespan of ordinary asphalt significantly. To help airport facilities reduce downtime for runway repairs, a specially mixed Fuel Resistant asphalt binder was developed to allow facilities to produce and lay asphalt quickly; and was designed to withstand the weathering of rigorous daily airport activity.
In 2007, this Fuel Resistant Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA), StellarFlex FR® (formerly CITGOFlex FR), was laboratory tested by the Rutgers Asphalt Pavement Laboratory at the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation. The study compared the performance of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey’s FAA #3 surface course HMA with our Fuel Resistant HMA, which had been proposed for airfield applications. Testing included measurement of 3 Repeated Load Permanent Deformation tests, 8 Flexural Beam Fatigue samples, 15 Dynamic Modulus tests, and Permeability in order to assess whether the proposed FR HMA performed as well as the FAA #3 surface course mix under the typical forces of an airport environment while continuing to resist jet fuel damage.
Conclusions drawn from the study showed that the Fuel Resistant mixes performed the best overall in the face of fatigue and deformation. The 50 Blow FR HMA demonstrated the greatest fatigue resistance while the 75 Blow FR HMA had performed best in rut resistance.
To read the full report: Laboratory Performance of Fuel Resistant Hot Mix Asphalt (2)
For the last 70 years, Associated Asphalt has been a leader in the asphalt supply industry. As we’ve grown to become a company that impacts many communities throughout the Eastern United Staes, we also want to be known for our dedication to giving back to those communities. We seek to supply more than just asphalt. We strive to provide community support too.
Under the leadership of J.W. Kirk, Jr. and Bill Kirk, Associated Asphalt has extended the philanthropic impact that the Kirks have made on Roanoke, VA to all the communities we serve. With a long history of family giving, they have instilled the value of giving back at our corporate headquarters and beyond.
“The Kirks are historically charitable and we as a company represent that across our Associated Asphalt footprint,” says Jena Owen, Senior Accountant and Community Involvement Coordinator.
At the corporate level, Associated Asphalt gives back to our communities with financial contributions to a variety of non-profit organizations that serve the community. From environmental organizations to the American Red Cross, we make sure our dollars are spent on bettering the lives of our friends and neighbors from all angles.
At the leadership and individual level, giving our time is just as important. Our corporate headquarters and terminals take the time to seek out their own service projects in the community to give back in the best way they know how. From participating in runs like the Rugged Maniac in Hopewell, VA to helping in a church construction in Martinsburg, WVA – our employees are passionate about giving their time.
“Giving back is about making a difference in your own backyard and that’s exactly what we try to do,” says Jena. “We just listen to the community and go where the need is.”
By playing an active role in supporting organizations that drive the socio-economic environment in which we’ve been able to build our company, we can build our communities.
StellarFlex FR® P-404 (formerly P-601) is one of the newest FAA-approved asphalt mixes for airports across the United States.
When it comes to formulating and producing the right product for airport pavements, Associated Asphalt has perfected the fuel resistant polymer-modified asphalt like no other. Our performance polymer-modified asphalt binder, StellarFlex FR®, is both crack and rut resistant under the extreme weight of large aircrafts and the jet fuel that powers them.
Backed by a 20-year track record of success, StellarFlex FR® was the first choice for Logan Airport in Boston, MA when it was time for their taxiway/end of runway resurfacing project in 2005. After the airport replaced our mix in 2017 with a P-401 mix, they found extreme levels of rutting and cracking in the course of a single year.
In 2017, the Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, conducted a comparison study between our FAA P-601 asphalt mixture and Boston Logan’s traditional surface course. The study revealed the extended life benefits of utilizing a P-601 mixture on high-traffic runways that are exposed to a multitude of damaging conditions.
Rutgers’ testing methods focused on three evaluations:
The study revealed that the P-601 asphalt mixture demonstrated better adaptability in higher and lower temperatures during the short-term test and lower levels of age hardening during the long-term test. In addition, the P-601 mixture has superior rutting resistance under repeated load pressure and more resistance to fatigue cracking at both short- and long-term aging conditions.
Read the entire Rutger’s Center for Advanced Infrastructure & Transportation Research Report.
