Cellulose fiber pellets

Stone mastic asphalt (SMA), was developed in Germany in the 1960s with the first SMA pavements being placed in 1968. It provides a deformation-resistant, durable surfacing material, suitable for heavily trafficked roads.

SMA has a high coarse aggregate content that interlocks to form a stone skeleton that resists permanent deformation. Typical SMA composition consists of 70−80% coarse aggregate, 8−12% filler, 6.0−7.0% binder, and 0.3 per cent fibrestabilizing additive (SA). Addition of a small quantity of cellulose or mineral fibre prevents drainage of bitumen during transport and placement. Empirically it has been found out that the best stabilizing effect is shown by specially prepared natural cellulosic fibres.

The differences of surface properties of fibrous materials substantially affect the nature of sorption processes at the interaction with bitumen. Natural cellulose material having a high sorption capacity is the first step to creating (SMA) with the desired properties, resulting in SMA concrete of high quality.

Pelletized cellulose fibres are being utilized. The dosage rate for cellulose fibres minimum by weight (on loose fibre basis) of the total mix rate does not exceed 0.3 % when the tested in accordance with ASTM D 6390.

The Cellulose fibres to be used in pellets shall meet the following requirements as per Government guidelines:

	Prescribed	Nugreen Pellet
Maximum fibre length	- 8mm	< 8mm
Ash Content	- maximum of 20 % Non-volatile	5.38%
Oil absorption	- more than 4 times Of the fibre weight	well over 4 times.
Moisture Content	- less than 5 % by weight	4.5%

The key parameters for performing include –

• Oil absorption capacity - Here the norm is at least 4 times the weight of the fibre. The nugreen pellet achieves much higher than the minimum prescribed standard, thus serving the primary purpose with great efficacy.
• Ash content - the ash or inherit impurities in the pellet is prescribed, not to exceed 20 %. The ash content achieved by Nugreen is about 4 times, lower than the limit prescribed. Thus, providing a much cleaner and pure product which adds to the additive properties.
• Moisture content - The moisture content is prescribed to be less than 5% and the moisture content achieved by Nugreen is below that. This is a critical factor, since, the cellulose fibre pellets are meant to fill the air gaps in the bitumen mix and absorb the excess moisture at a fast rate.

Given our expertise and specialization in pelleting of wood and industrial residue have in-house capability and achieved success.

This is an import substitution “MAKE IN INDIA” product. Import is very expensive as well, has significant export potential as well.

The preferred raw material is natural cellulose fibre. Any wood based product has as its components – cellulose, hemi-cellulose, lignin and ash. The key is to use the cellulose fibre and not the other components. This is a derived product extremely light in weight and with high natural absorption capacity. These extracted cellulose fibres are pelletized with liquid bitumen solution The fibres are absorbed by the bitumen coating and takes over the function of a spacer between the fibres. The bitumen coating ensures a quick and complete dispersion in the asphalt mix.

The conversion into pellets enables an easy way of mixing in the free flowing material and gets easily dispersed. It’s non-abrasive and non-hazardous with a heat resistance of over 230 degree Celsius.

Commercially, our cellulose fibre pellets are priced at less than half the imported pellets. Thus, the opportunity for domestic as well as export possibilities of the product.

Oil absorption test – we have put 40gms of oil + 10gms of fibre. Fibre absorbs the oil extremely fast. And is visible, also we show the pellets made from the same fibre in the video.