Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) is a unique bituminous, naturally occurring material, which provides, performance – enhancing properties to binders and Hot Mix Asphalts (HMA) in the asphalt.

Description:

• It a Natural Asphalt
• It is black and gives matte grey colour to Hot Mix Asphalt when processed.
• It comprises bitumen and naturally occurring mineral components.
• It acts as THE IDEAL MODIFIER to refinery bitumen, enhancing the performance characteristics of bitumen – based Hot Mix Asphalts (HMAs)

Behaviour: Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) is considered to be a thermoplastic (viscoelastic) material. At ambient temperatures, it is actually a semi-solid or can be solid or can be classified as a gel-sol but appears completely solid on initial observation. However, if left outdoors, at ambient tropical and sub-tropical temperatures, it will slowly change shape and occupy the area in which it is kept.

The mineral presence Provides Improved Resistance to skid and imparts stiffness to the binder.
The presence of the mineral material allows for a reduced amount of “fines” to be added in the generation of the Job Mix Formula (JMF) of the Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA).

Advantage of Using TLA

• Increased life cycle of the pavement (2.5 times over regular bitumen)
• The unique mineral component adds non-skid properties
• Increased stability and resistance to permanent deformation
• Decreased rate of aging
• Improved surface friction
• Higher cracking resistance
• Ease of pigmentation
• Greater durability and better full-life cost performance
• Improved pavement load carrying
• A light coloured, safer surface
• Provides structural and durability improvements which lead to extended pavement life

TLA Uses:

• Airport and Seaport terminals
• Bridge decks
• Truck lanes (heavy and high traffic areas)
• Highways
• Tunnels
• Roofs
• A variety of protective coatings

Packaging:
Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) is packaged in 230kg fibre-board or steel drums and shipped internationally in 20’ and 40’ containers.