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National Winner

Self-regenerating rubber pavement

It is a pavement made of tires, which is regenerated by absorbing water, thus solving the largest deficit in Mexico.

  • Rubber pavement

  • Specimen damaged by the press

  • Same regenerated specimen

What it does

Damage is caused by rain filtering to the base of pavements, weakening it and creating subsidence. This is how the idea that turning the greatest degradation agent into a recovery agent was born.


Your inspiration

I was inspired to solve the problem that every time it rains in my city pavement gets damaged and it takes a lot of time to maintain a damaged street. I am determined to create a pavement capable of withstanding the rain.


How it works

The pavement was inspired by concrete that regenerates with bacteria, transferring its chemical functionalities to the pavement without the use of bacteria. Everything is born from the additives used because there is homogenization with the material and the rubber when they are at high temperature but following the same process of manufacture of the asphalt pavement. The regeneration is due to a putty that is created when rubber and additives are mixed, this putty is in contact with the water creates calcium silicates which is one of the components of the regeneration and physical-chemical improvement of the pavement


Design process

This invention is the reformulation of my original project, since I first considered asphalt and other additives but when I observed the possibility of using rubber tires that contaminate our cities I determined to improve my project. Following the Aashto standards to perform indirect tensile tests and the Marshall test, design specimens to experiment and after passing to the press and be broken they were submitted to the water to verify their recovery and again the specimens returned to the press to determine the percentage of recovery.


How it is different

At present there are already pavements that regenerate but none uses water as a means of regeneration and much less made of tires, while in Mexico 80% of the pavement is asphalt and 20% concrete hydraulic is continued with this monotony of poor use for the most important infrastructure that connects us all.


Future plans

The main thing is the certification of ONNCCE (they are in charge of endorsing products for buildings in Mexico) then it will be to take a technical sheet of my invention to the communications and transportation secretary (SCT) since they are the ones that determine which asphalt will be used In the constructions and in the medium term I would like to start my own construction company to be able to implement my invention


Awards

Participate in the innovate network create of tecnológico del Monterrey. Go to state panels at the event for entrepreneurs Possible 2019


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