The Modified Asphalt Research Center at UW–Madison helps define, address and advance all aspects of modified asphalts. MARC pursues the most pressing and promising research needs for this growing technology, working across departments at UW and in cooperation with petroleum producers, additive manufacturers and industry stakeholders. UW’s research team is actively engaged in related research as part of the FHWA-funded Asphalt Research Consortium.

Featured Researcher:

Dr. Bahia leads MARC and is UW’s principal investigator for the Asphalt Research Consortium.
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  (Images courtesy FHWA.)

International Workshop on Asphalt Binders and Mastics

Registration is open for the International Workshop on Asphalt Binders and Mastics. UW–Madison and the University of Texas will co-present the event on September 16-17 in Madison. The conference will address rheological properties of undamaged materials, damage/aging and modified binders among other topics. Visit the conference Web page for details and registration instructions.

News and Updates

  • UAPC approves MARC. During its mid-May meeting, UW-Madison's University Academic Planning Council formally approved the establishment of the Modified Asphalt Research Center (read the official letter [PDF] from Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Paul DeLuca). MARC thanks the university, the members of the UAPC, and those individuals and organizations who offered their endorsement and assistance. This summer MARC plans to host meetings first with faculty members and then with representatives of the modified asphalt community to define and prioritize the most critical research needs for the center.

  • White paper on sustainable asphalt pavements. What is the extent of the energy, emissions and environmental impacts of current and promising new asphalt technologies? And what methods and models will help assess these benefits and inform decisions on next steps? To raise awareness and open dialog on these questions, MARC researchers issued a white paper, Sustainable Asphalt Pavements: Technologies, Knowledge Gaps and Opportunities [PDF]. We welcome feedback from the asphalt community.

  • Asphalt emulsions used in Europe. MARC researchers are often asked about asphalt emulsions and their viability for widespread use in the United States. During the 2008 International Symposium on Asphalt Emulsion Technology, we were interested to learn more about successful deployment of cold mix asphalt pavements in Europe. We thank Eric Jorda of Arkema/CECA’s Rhône Alps Research Center for sharing his paper [PDF] and presentation [PDF] on “Dense Cold Mixes: Preservation of County Roads.”