Joint Research and Development Program to Advance Asphalt Pavement Practices in China

Employees of Sinyue visit Auburn University on a campus tour. From left, NCAT Postdoctoral Researcher Fan Gu, Sinyue Senior Advisor Bin Wang, NCAT Director Randy West, Sinyue President Shuihui Wu, Sinyue Senior Advisor James Luo, and NCAT Associate Research Professor Nam Tran.

NCAT and Jiangsu Sinyue Asphalt Co. of China have established a 10-year research and development agreement focused on advancing cost-effective and sustainable asphalt pavement practices in China and throughout the world.

NCAT researchers will provide technical support in developing innovative asphalt technologies, training programs, and workshops to foster technological advancements involving high percentages of reclaimed asphalt pavement, cold asphalt recycling, highly modified asphalt binders, and asphalt pavement preventive maintenance and rehabilitation.

“This program represents a unique opportunity for NCAT to expand our research and outreach,” NCAT Director Randy West said. “The knowledge and experience gained from the program will benefit the asphalt paving industry in the United States and worldwide, as SINYUE’s resources will multiply our efforts to build sound technical data to advance the state of practice in China as well as to develop technologies that can be implemented here in the U.S.”

SINYUE will finance the program, which will include building a new facility in Jiangsu Province and purchasing new testing equipment. In turn, NCAT engineers will travel to China for up to three months each year to provide leadership and technical expertise, while SINYUE employees will receive training each year at the NCAT facility in Auburn.

SINYUE is a leading comprehensive asphalt company in China with business operations in asphalt transport and storage, trade, liquid asphalt products manufacturing, mixture production and paving. In the past decade, the company has actively cooperated with a number of companies, research institutions, and universities to complete pavement construction projects and to develop innovative asphalt products and paving technologies.

“SINYUE and NCAT will work together to establish a comprehensive, innovation-oriented research and development program,” SINYUE Chairman Shuihui Wu said. “Both parties will make full use of their respective expertise and experience to serve the growth of the asphalt industry in China and aid in the advancement of more cost-effective and sustainable asphalt pavement materials and technologies.”