Maintaining the optimal temperature of asphalt during transport is a major challenge for road maintenance crews. Without proper temperature control, asphalt cools quickly, leading to poor-quality repairs and wasted resources.
Workers must play a potentially costly guessing game about how long it will take to get from the asphalt plant to the job site before the material becomes unusable. Read on to learn how long asphalt stays at an optimal temperature.
The Importance of Asphalt Temperature
Laying asphalt at the correct temperature is crucial for effective road repairs. Hot mix asphalt should be applied between 275 and 290 degrees. This ideal temperature ensures proper adhesion to the pothole and allows for a seamless repair.
It also makes compaction easier and ensures the correct height and density for a long-lasting patch. Maintaining this temperature prevents premature cooling, which can lead to weak spots and reduced durability.
Standard Dump Truck vs. Falcon Hot Boxes
Asphalt begins to cool the second it’s loaded into a non-insulated dump truck bed. It will only stay at the ideal temperature range for a few hours. By the end of the workday, it has become a pile of hardened and unusable material. Workers must then drive back to the plant and pay for disposal.
Falcon Hot Boxes offer a solution to maintaining optimal asphalt temperatures throughout the day. They feature a triple-walled, insulated ceramic chamber that effectively retains heat. A fuel-efficient diesel burner helps maintain the ideal temperature for up to 48 hours. Adding a second optional burner extends that timeframe for up to 72 hours.
The Impact of Time and Transportation
Distance and transportation time significantly affect asphalt temperature retention in standard dump trucks. Asphalt plants are not always just around the corner. Trips can sometimes take hours due to rush hour traffic. This becomes very problematic when racing against the clock. Asphalt can easily cool below a workable 200-degree temperature before reaching the job site.
Additional Benefits of Falcon Hot Boxes
Adding a secondary burner to any Falcon Hot Box turns it into an asphalt recycler. Workers can throw old asphalt chunks into the hotbox and melt them down into usable material. Recycling old asphalt is better for the environment and helps save time and money from having to haul it away for disposal.
At Falcon, we engineer our hotboxes to prioritize worker safety. For example, we position the unloading door handle, digital controller, and hooper access step on the curbside of the machine. These safety features allow road crews to have easy and safe access.
Watch the video below for a side-by-side comparison of how asphalt retains its temperature in a Falcon Hot Box vs. a standard dump truck.
Falcon Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes vs. Falcon Asphalt Patch Trucks
Falcon Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes and Falcon Asphalt Patch Trucks are two great ways to maintain asphalt at an ideal temperature. However, their designs and applications cater to different needs.
Falcon Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes
Falcon Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes are designed for flexibility and efficiency in maintaining asphalt temperatures over extended periods. These units feature a triple-walled, insulated ceramic chamber that effectively retains heat. A fuel-efficient diesel burner helps keep asphalt hot for up to 48 hours. An optional second burner extends this period to 72 hours.
The Falcon Hot Box can recycle old asphalt chunks and millings. This reduces waste and is environmentally friendly. These units are available in sizes ranging from 2 to 10 tons. They can be configured with different mounting systems like hook-lift, slip-in/roll-off, or chassis-mount, making them adaptable to different trucks and operational needs.
Falcon Asphalt Patch Trucks
Falcon Asphalt Patch Trucks provide an all-in-one solution for asphalt repairs. They do not require a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), making them more accessible and cost-effective for municipalities and contractors.
These trucks come equipped with all necessary tools and compartments, including tack tanks and storage for compactors. This ensures that crews have everything they need on-site.
The heating systems in these trucks maintain asphalt temperature during transport and application. They can also reheat old asphalt for reuse. Falcon’s patented heat management systme and hydraulic lift keep asphalt at the correct temperature and simplify the unloading process.
Extend Your Asphalt Life with Falcon HotBoxes
It’s nearly impossible to keep asphalt at optimal temperatures for any duration of time without a hotbox. This leads to municipalities and road maintenance contractors wasting tens of thousands of dollars annually in labor, fuel, and asphalt costs.
Falcon Truck-Mounted Hot Boxes and Asphalt Patch Trucks can transform your road maintenance operations and save money in the process. We’re the road repair experts who can help you transform your pothole operations.
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