VESTENAMER® for Road Construction – The Smart Additive for High‑Performance Asphalt Rubber
VESTENAMER® polyoctenamer enables asphalt producers to create durable, resilient, and easier‑to‑process asphalt mixes using ground tire rubber (GTR). The result: enhanced performance, improved sustainability, and lower total costs in road construction.
Key Benefits of VESTENAMER® in Road Construction
- Easier processing of asphalt rubber and reduced mix stickiness
- Improved rutting resistance and durability
- Better low‑temperature flexibility
- Enhanced pumpability and storage stability
- Lower mixing temperatures and reduced emissions
- Enables sustainable recycling of scrap tires
- Cost‑efficient alternative to traditional modifiers
What Is VESTENAMER®?
VESTENAMER® is a polyoctenamer additive that acts as a compatibilizer between bitumen and ground tire rubber (GTR). Evonik’s patented process blends VESTENAMER® with crumb rubber to create a uniform, high‑quality binder that significantly improves both processing and performance of asphalt rubber mixes.
How VESTENAMER® Improves Asphalt Rubber
Using GTR in asphalt is well known for boosting durability - but it can create processing challenges, such as poor pumpability and high stickiness. Adding a small amount of VESTENAMER® solves these problems:
- The VESTENAMER®/GTR blend forms a homogeneous, easy‑to‑process composite.
- Bitumen modification becomes more stable, even at lower mixing temperatures.
- Manual installation becomes easier due to improved compactability.
- Hot storage behavior of modified bitumen is significantly improved.
Sustainability & Circular Economy Contribution
VESTENAMER® enables the high‑value recycling of scrap tires, turning them into long‑lasting pavement materials. Key sustainability benefits:
- Use of GTR fully aligned with Circular Economy principles
- Lower mixing temperatures when following E GmBA guidelines
- Reduced emissions during production due to VESTENAMER®’s low melting point (54°C)
- Field and lab tests confirm safe recyclability of VESTENAMER®/GTR‑modified asphalt
Product highlights
FAQ's
Yes. VESTENAMER® works in both wet and dry rubber modification processes, giving asphalt producers high flexibility. This means even smaller mixing plants or smaller batch productions can use it without new equipment.
No special equipment is needed. VESTENAMER® is supplied as an easy‑to‑handle pellet, which melts quickly and evenly during mixing. Asphalt plants can continue using their standard installations.
No. VESTENAMER® has a low melting point (approx. 54°C), so it becomes reactive early during the mixing process. In many cases, mixing times remain unchanged or may even improve due to better flow and pumpability.
Yes. VESTENAMER® works with standard paving grade bitumen, as well as polymer‑modified binders. Its compatibilizing effect helps bridge differences between GTR and various binder sources.
Asphalt modified with VESTENAMER® and GTR can be fully recycled. Laboratory and field tests show no technical barriers or environmental risks when reclaiming VESTENAMER®‑modified pavements in standard recycling processes.
Yes. When used in porous asphalt (OPA), the VESTENAMER®/GTR blend can help maintain the elasticity of the mix, contributing to longer‑lasting noise‑reduction effects of the pavement surface.
Yes - positively. VESTENAMER® improves storage stability of modified binders, significantly reducing the risk of GTR settling during hot storage.