SULFUR-ASPHALTIC CONCRETE ON THREE ONTARIO TEST ROADS (WITH DISCUSSION)

As a by-product of desulfurizing natural gas and petroleum products, elemental sulfur is being produced in large quantities in western Canada. The supply of sulfur has increased far beyond the demand, and large stockpiles of sulfur have been the result. Much research is in progress to find new uses for this product, and one outlet being investigated for sulfur is its ability to replace part of the asphalt in the production of asphaltic concrete for surfacing roads. Three processes have been developed for the use of sulfur in this manner. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, in order to test these sulfur processes, decided to lay some test roads. This paper provides an overview of the sulfur process chosen for the tests, wherein the sulfur is emulsified in the asphalt without the addition of an emsulfier, and of the construction of the test roads.