Russian scientists have developed a frost-resistant biopolymer to improve the roads in the Arctic, said Georgy Lazarenko, head of the competence center for closed-loop technologies at the Advanced Engineering School of Novosibirsk State University.
"We use biopolymers that form a structure as a result of temperature differences and a cycle of freezing and melting. It is created in such a way that the strength of the material increases with each cycle," TASS quotes him as saying.
It's about a mixture of different biopolymers. The exact component composition of the material is a trade secret. According to Lazarenko, the materials can be used in road construction to strengthen the soil foundations of roads, both automobile and railway. The developed components meet high environmental requirements and standards for the Arctic regions.
Laboratory tests have shown that the resulting material can withstand temperatures up to minus 20 degrees Celsius. Industrial tests of the technology are planned to begin next year, the scientist said.
Alex Shishlo, Editor in Chief of the European Bureau, Rough&Polished
