These days, the oil bitumen plant is conducting tests of a protective compound for asphalt on the sites of OJSC Belaruskali. Specialists want to check whether it can protect the pavement from salts under such "extreme" conditions.

This is reported by sb.by citing the director of the UP "Neftbitum Plant" Alexander Khramtsov. Asphalt roads on the territory of OJSC Belaruskali are constantly subjected to high exposure to potassium and sodium chlorides. Rain dissolves salt dust, creating a highly corrosive solution. Ordinary asphalt concrete in such conditions deteriorates many times faster, and the salt solution literally tears the pavement apart from within.

The protective compounds of the oil bitumen plant create a hydrophobic seamless film on the asphalt surface. Its main task is to prevent salt solutions from penetrating into the asphalt. If the compound withstands the harsh conditions, it will be a positive sign for its further use, notes the plant director.

The statement notes: UP "Neftbitum Plant" (Cherven district, village of Koleyna) specializes in the production of road and roofing bitumens, as well as bitumen emulsions. The plant supplies the domestic market and Belarusian construction industry with materials for laying, repairing roads and waterproofing. It produces about a third of the road petroleum bitumens in Belarus.