Invigorate Rejuvenator Additive Gain Endorsements

Asphalt producers and contractors are endorsing Invigorate^® rejuvenator, a soybean-oil derived additive designed to increase the amount of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) and shingles (RAS) used in paving projects. The favorable reviews stem from a successful run of trial projects in 2020, as use of recycled asphalt with Invigorate reached as high as 45%.

Colorbiotics, Ames, Iowa, officially launched Invigorate in October 2020, marking the company’s expansion into the asphalt industry. During late summer 2020, Colorbiotics partnered with producers and contractors to use Invigorate as a rejuvenator on highway, street and parking lot paving jobs. The projects stretched from the Midwest to the East Coast.

“Invigorate performed exactly as we had anticipated,” said Kent Rotert, Colorbiotics vice president. “Producers and contractors were extremely happy because it saves costs and is environmentally friendly, while exceeding expectations in pavement flexibility and durability.”

Invigorate rejuvenator triggers chemical reactions inside RAP, RAS and stiff binders with the goal of breaking down asphaltene aggregation and reversing the effects of oxidation in the final mix. Invigorate is designed to repair the chemical damage in lower-quality binders to address the aged elements within recycled asphalt. It was developed in conjunction with scientists at Iowa State University, who also monitored the trials.

“The science behind this product has the potential to be industry-changing,” Rotert said. “Every customer we’ve met with believes Invigorate can help set new industry standards not just in asphalt recycling, but in asphalt pavement longevity as well.”

While percentage of RAP was important, pavement density was also critical in the trials. Multiple density tests for Invigorate mix samples and projects showed density readings as high as 94.4%, indicating that even with increased RAP content (as much as 45%), specified density was achieved with compaction.

Pavement durability and flexibility were gauged using the I-FIT crack test, IDEAL cracking test and DCT crack test.

For more information, visit the Colorbiotics website or check out the article “Heartland Asphalt Pushes the RAP Envelope with Invigorate” on AsphaltPro.com.