FiberMat® Type B is a combination of special polymer modified asphalt emulsion, chopped fiberglass strands, and aggregate. This mixture acts as a highly resilient waterproof membrane that seals and effectively delays reflective cracking.
FiberMat® Type B differs from Type A in that it is a Stress Absorbing Membrane Interlayer (SAMI). Type B is superior to other treatments as there are no adhesion problems and the membrane cannot gather or tear because it is sprayed in place.
FiberMat® Type B is also faster to apply than conventional SAMI’s. It can be opened to traffic within 15 minutes of initial application and the overlaying of the final wearing course; the latter may even be applied at a later date. These may be HMA/ Ultra-Thin Wearing Course/ Microsurfacing.
The application can be customized to address specific problem areas on the roadway allowing optimization of distress control dictated by the condition of the pavement.
Why it Works:
Research performed at Nottingham University in the United Kingdom concluded that FiberMat® Type B has sufficient tensile strength and flexibility to absorb movements in the pavement structure and can prevent the pavement from cracking.
Where permanent lateral movement of the overlay might occur – due to cracks in the underlying material – FiberMat® Type B reduces the magnitude of the resulting strain in the overlay by spreading it over a greater area. The membrane dissipates stresses through the fiberglass horizontally rather than vertically to create a robust control system.
While conventional SAMI’s simply relieve stress, FiberMat® Type B acts like a cushion – its thickness absorbs stresses, thereby acting as a true stress absorbing membrane.
A specially developed patented machine drops fiberglass strands in-place between two layers of polymer modified asphalt emulsion. The fiberglass strands are applied at a rate of typically 2.5-4 oz/ square yard, depending on the severity of the cracking.
The asphalt emulsion is applied in two simultaneous streams totaling approximately 0.4-0.5 gallons/ SY. This is then followed by the application of a light dressing of ¼” size aggregate, which is then compressed into the robust FiberMat® surface.
See the chart below to see how much effort and moneyFiberMat® Type B can save you on road maintenance and repairs: