Product Description

Roads, Tunnels and Bridges are an important part of the Transportation system for all communities and must be maintained when they become older. Nothing lasts forever. If you do not provide the means for people and industry to have safe and economical access to their destinations, then they both suffer increased user costs and reduced net incomes respectively.

One such material that has proven that it is strong, does the job and is economical to use as a natural modifier for asphalt concrete mix is Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA). It has proven over and over again that it is a strong pavement material, and can be adapted to local construction procedures. It has been around long time (over **0 years), and has a successful track record of Infrastructure repair and rehabilitation for many Airports, Tunnels and Bridges as well as other Transportation facilities around the world.

TLA comes from the worlds largest commercial deposit of Natural Asphalt located in La Brea, Trinidad & Tobago, a Twin Island Republic just off the North-Eastern tip of the South American Mainland. This Natural Asphalt Lake has been actively mined for over **0 hundred years and was the worlds first source of bulk bitumen and modifier to refinery bitumen. The lake is commonly referred to as the PITCH LAKE and is classified as one of the wonders of the world.

Advantages of TLA:
• Increased life-cycle of Pavement (up to 2 1/2 times regular bitumen)
• Reduced rate of aging (reduction of all of the related problems associated with aging)
• Increased stability
• Improved anti skid

Where is TLA Being Used?
• Airports & Seaport Terminals
• Bridge Decks
• Truck Lanes (heavy and highly trafficked areas)
• Tunnels

TLA has also been used extensively for roofing and has been incorporated into a variety of protective coatings.

Key Countries Using TLA:
• Canada • Hong Kong • Caribbean Islands
• Japan • Chile • United Kingdom
• China • United States • Germany

Please read below for a detailed breakdown of the product:

1. Product Identification:

Product Name: Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA)
Origin: Naturally Occurring
Common Names: Dried Asphalt (DA), Trinidad Refined Asphalt (Epure)
Chemical Composition: A stable colloidal mix of bituminous compounds and mineral matter.

Approximate Percentages of Components:
Bitumen Content - *3 - *5%
Mineral Matter - *5 *7.5%
Water of Hydration of Minerals - 4.3%
Other Organic matter - 3.2%

2. Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Black or Dull Grey (Solid appearance)
Behaviour: Trinidad Lake Asphalt (TLA) is considered to be a thermoplastic material. At ambient temperatures, it is actually a semi-solid or can be classified as a gel-sol but appears solid at first glance. If left in the open, it will slowly change shape to suit area in which it is kept.
Properties:
                                         Test Methods         Values        
Penetration (*5 oC)            ASTM D5              0 - 5
Specific Gravity                  ASTM D*0            1.3 1.5g/cm3
Softening Point (RB)           ASTM D*6            *9 - *9oC