FORTA-FI FIBERS
FOR ASPHALT MIX REINFORCEMENT
FORTA-FI FIBERS
DESIGNED FOR HOT AND WARM MIX ASPHALT
FORTA® Corporation is the pioneer in introducing Aramid fibers in asphalt pavements since 1982, with successful projects worldwide. They perfected the FORTA-FI fibers through continuous and on-going R&D since 1986 in collaboration with major universities.
FORTA-FI® is a high tensile strength synthetic fiber blend formulated to reinforce asphalt mixes in both new construction and rehab projects. The mix of aramid and polyolefin fibers is designed to enhance your current mix design. Aramid fibers will not melt during production, and will bring mechanical reinforcement to the asphalt mix. They are known for their strength and durability in both high and low temperatures. The polyolefin fiber’s main function is to work as a transport mean of the aramid fibers, and help distributing them in a homogenous fashion across the mix, within five (5) seconds of dry mixing time. It is the most efficient fiber blend containing Aramid.
FORTA-FI can provide initial cost savings through reduced pavement layer thickness while delivering the same durability as conventional mixes OR the ability to reduce the overall life-cycle costs by extending pavement life (when placed at a conventional pavement thickness).
DESIGNED FOR HOT AND WARM MIX ASPHALT
Features
- Designed for all working temperatures
- Mix in batch or drum plants
- Feeds easily
- Distributes uniformly and completely
- Improves tensile strength
- Gives 3D isotropic reinforcement to the pavemen
- Comes in pre-dosed bags, easy to use, for small to medium size paving jobs, with mix temperatures above 140 °C, or in bulk for large jobs and / or mix temperatures below 140 °C.
Benefits
Initial cost savings through reduced pavement layer thickness while delivering the same durability as conventional mixes.
OR
Ability to extend pavement life by up to 50% by reducing raveling, rutting, thermal, reflective, and fatigue cracking.
In either of above cases, FORTA-FI shows to be a sustainable product, reducing emissions from haulage trucks and using less rock from quarries either in the short or long term.
Easy to Use
- Easy to mix in both Batch and Drum plants.
- No modifications needed to asphalt plants.
- Only five (5) seconds of dry mixing are enough for an optimal fiber distribution in the mix.
- No modifications needed to the current asphalt mix design.
- No workers’ training required to place mix with FORTA-FI on job site.
- No modifications needed to standard placement or compaction practices.
How to add FORTA-FI at the asphalt mix plant
The Aramid fibers in the FORTA -FI product are NON-coated, free to start dispersing the split second they touch the hot aggregates inside the mixer. Only five (5) seconds of dry mixing time are necessary to get full distribution of the 19 million fibers of Aramid per tonne of mix. The fact that our aramid is non coated, permits full fibrillation of the fibers. This has a direct impact on creating a network of interconnected fibers in the mix that increases the performance of the pavement.
There are a several ways to introduce FORTA-FI® in the asphalt mix plant at a dosage of 0.5 Kg of fiber per one (1) tonne of asphalt mix.
Below are the standard procedures but depending on the plant used and customisations done to it, we might recommend different ways to introduce FORTA-FI :
In a batch plant
Manually adding the pre-dosed, patented, 0.5 KG bags of FORTA-FI directly into either the pug mill or the weight hopper. Since the bags are pre-dosed, only one operator is enough to throw the bags as is without having to open them. This is for any Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and some Warm Mixes (WMA) providing the mix temperature is above 140°C;
Alternatively, if there are a lot of dust / heat / noise close to the pug mil or it is not easily accessible, we offer our Big Shot system, this way the operator can be on the ground level, sitting down and feeding the bags through the 8-inch tube of the Big Shot venturi system;
When using WMA at lower than 140°C, the same Big Shot system should be used, but the bags will be opened and emptied at the mouth of the 8-inch tube, and than the empty bag is sucked in as well. The bag is designed to be part of the mix as a polymer and will melt below 100 °C.
In a continuous mix plant
Manually adding the pre-dosed, patented, 0.5 KG bags of FORTA-FI directly into the mixing drum at the RAP collar or onto the RAP conveyor belt on top of the RAP material. Since the bags are pre-dosed, only one operator is enough to introduce the bags as is without having to open them. This is for any Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and some Warm Mixes (WMA) providing the mix temperature is above 140°C. Note that the bag system has been used successfully on projects up to 15,000 tonnes of mix;
Alternatively, if The RAP belt or RAP collar are not easily accessible, one could use the Big Shot system, this way the operator can be on the ground level, sitting down and feeding the bags through the 8-inch tube of the Big Shot venturi system that will be connected at the other end to the RAP collar. When using WMA at a temperature lower than 140°C, the same Big Shot system could be used but the bags will be opened and emptied at the mouth of the 8-inch tube, and than the empty bag is sucked in as well. The bag is designed to be part of the mix as a polymer and will melt below 100 °C;
The Voyager, radio remote controlled, fully automated fiber dispenser trailer can be used on large paving projects or when using WMA at low temperatures. It is connected to the RAP collar through a flexible tube. The Voyager uses FORTA-FI in bulk, does not need any compressed air thanks to its own turbo system, and only needs to be plugged to a power source. It has an easy-to-use radio remote control panel that plant operator will keep in control room to fully operate Voyager from there.
* FORTA®, FORTA-FI™, are registered trademarks of FORTA Corporation
FORTAfied Asphalt
The presence of FORTA-FI in the pavement creates a matrix due to the isotropic 3D links between the fibers and the aggregates / fines, resulting in a bigger area of the pavement responding to the induced stresses from the trucks’ tires. The outcome is less longitudinal cracks, less alligator cracks and less rutting.
SAVE DOWN THE ROAD
Lasts 50% Longer
Reduce six (6) types of pavement distresses such as cracking, rutting and raveling.
Non-FORTAfied Asphalt
The unidirectional loads transmitted by the truck’s tires produces stress and fatigue in the unreinforced pavements.
