New “self-healing” asphalt made from recycled cooking oil can mend potholes without the need for maintenance or human intervention, scientists say.
The Asphalt Industry Alliance estimates potholes cost the UK £143.5 million per year; however, new research suggest biomass waste could offer a sustainable solution.
Cracks form in asphalt when bitumen – the sticky black material in the asphalt mixture – hardens through oxidisation, but the exact processes behind this are not entirely known.
A team of scientists from Swansea University and King’s College London, in collaboration with scientists in Chile, are designing a new “selt-healing” asphalt using artificial intelligence (AI).
The scientists say they have found a way to reverse cracking and develop methods to “stitch” asphalt back together.
Expert in computational chemistry at King’s College London Dr Francisco Martin-Martinez said the research seeks to mimic healing properties observed in nature.
The team incorporated spores, which are smaller than a strand of hair, into the asphalt filled with recycled oils.
The spores are released when the asphalt begins to crack, which helps to reverse the process before potholes are formed, Swansea University says.
In laboratory experiments, the advanced asphalt material was shown to “completely heal” a microcrack on its surface in less than an hour.
During the research, a type of AI known as machine learning was used to study organic molecules in complex fluids like bitumen.
Dr Jose Norambuena-Contreras, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Civil Engineering at Swansea University, said: “This approach positions our research at the forefront of sustainable infrastructure innovation, contributing to the development of net-zero roads with enhanced durability.
“To transition to more sustainable net-zero asphalt roads, the UK Government and private sector must invest in initiatives that drive innovation.”
