For the first time in the UK, a new durable graphene-enhanced road surface which is kinder for both our environment and our cars has been successfully tested.
Redcar-based graphene company, Universal Matter GBR Ltd, working in conjunction with Tarmac, the country’s biggest name in road construction, and Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, have laid the first UK public road using their innovative graphene-based additive Genable™ Pavement.
The addition of graphene to the asphalt enables a longer lifespan of the road, reducing rutting, cracking and increasing resistance to potholes. This promises a smoother journey for drivers, with a less damaging long-term impact on their cars, offering the potential for significant reductions in the carbon footprints of our roads.
The new enhanced asphalt material has previously been tested on several car parks in the United States and Canada and at the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) test track, but this was the first demonstration on a public road anywhere in the world.
Graphene additive was added to over 150 tonnes of asphalt at Tarmac’s Coxhoe asphalt plant in Durham, which was then transported to Flatts Lane Country Park, on the edge of Middlesbrough, where a construction team put down a new entrance road.
“It’s an exciting day for the business globally because it represents a real step forward for the product,” said Andy Gent, the Commercial Director of Universal Matter. He added: “It’s great to see it taken from the lab stage to full road application. This product has great potential, and we are delighted that Tarmac agreed to participate.”
Universal Matter has developed cleaner, faster, and more economical technology to produce graphene, an advanced carbon-based nanomaterial with a wide range of applications. Its proprietary Flash Joule Heating process, coupled with its distinct capability to produce fully formulated graphene-based solutions, can greatly improve the properties of a wide range of infrastructure and industrial materials.
Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, with U.S. office and innovation centre in Houston, Texas, and the U.K. office and innovation centre in Redcar, Universal Matter’s vision is to become the leading supplier of high quality and sustainable graphene and other advanced materials to decarbonise the planet.
Graphene has a number of special properties – including strength and flexibility – which add value and enhance performance to materials like asphalt, as well as paints and coatings, concrete and tyres.
Technical Director A&A for Tarmac, Brian Kent stated that “As part of our drive to explore, and develop new solutions to our customers, particularly focussing on durability and sustainability, we were happy to participate in this project which provides the opportunity to assess performance and potential further use.”
Cllr Carl Quartermain, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: “This is fantastic news for our area, showcasing the innovation and expertise of businesses right here in Redcar and Cleveland. We take pride in being at the forefront of sustainable, cutting-edge technology that not only improves our roads but also benefits motorists and the environment. Redcar's Universal Matter and Tarmac are demonstrating how local talent and big industry can drive real change, and I’d like to congratulate everyone involved in making this a UK first. We look forward to continuing this partnership and bringing more pioneering projects into our borough, strengthening our reputation as a hub for advanced materials and sustainable infrastructure.”
Universal Matter’s Chief Marketing Officer Dru Kefalos said: “We are very pleased to support this asphalt pavement project in Middlesbrough, in collaboration with Tarmac and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. This project is the first use of our Genable™ Pavement graphene-based polymer composite in the UK.”
He added: “We expect this product to deliver reduced rutting, cracking and ultimately enhanced durability of this and other future asphalt projects.”