Ahmedabad :  Zydex, an innovation-driven organization from Vadodara, Gujarat, has come up with a Nanotechnology that provides a complete solution to build moisture-resistant, long-lasting roads.

Zydex Nanotechnology is patented across the globe and is on its way to revolutionize the very way in which the roads are designed and built today – globally.

Zydex Nanotechnology was recognized and awarded by International Road Federation (IRF) in the form of their IRF Global Road Achievement Award (GRAA) for 2013, in the research category.

Dr Ajay Ranka, CEO, Zydex Industries was felicitated with an award at the IRF Global Conference recently held in Riyadh. Highway Agency Directors, dignitaries and top-notch road professionals from across the world were also present on the occasion.

Zydex Nanotechnology in a nutshell

Ingress of water in the rainy season weakens the road soil bases, de-bonds the Prime and Tack coats and destroys the bituminous layers causing undulations and potholes affecting ride-quality and motorability.

Moisture is the well-known enemy of roads. The present technology for road-making provides very limited protection against moisture and that is the reason most roads go bad during the monsoon.

The Zydex Nanotechnology is all about waterproofing soil bases, and chemical bonding of bitumen to aggregates, sand, clay etc, and eliminating moisture related damages.

Zydex Nanotechnology: Key Features

Zydex Nanotechnology additives allow moisture proofing of soil layers and reduce moisture permeability by 500 – 1000 times. They strengthen the soil by increasing the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) of soil, reduce expansiveness by 90% and eliminate undulations and cracking.

Nanotechnology based additives make Bond Coats (Prime &Tack) 100% waterproofed, allowing 100% stress transfer and saving bitumen by achieving chemical bonding.

The global award winning technology enables chemical bonding of bitumen with aggregates and eliminates moisture damage to bituminous layers.

Benefits: –  Zydex nanotechnologies are cost neutral at CAPEX and improve durability of the road to reduce life cycle cost by 50 % or more. This Nanotechnology is expected to revolutionize the urban and rural India, just as mobile telephony did.

Indian Context: Facts & Figures

a.       Bitumen consumption in India was 4.5 million Metric Tons in the Year 2011-12 costing Rs 18,000 Crores (current value). Nearly 80% valued at Rs 14,400 Crores was used for resurfacing. By doubling the life, Zydex Nanotechnologies can save Rs 7200 Crores annually in bitumen savings alone.

b.      If bitumen at the refinery is modified with the Zydex Nanotechnology additives, the annual cost would be only Rs 540 Crores, saving Rs.7200 Crores to the nation annually. Saving FOREX intensive Bitumen will allow government to build and maintain more roads.

Doping at the source by the refineries will be similar to ‘doping of Iodine in Salt’. The above possibility deserves attention at the highest level.

c.       The annual cost to the country for maintaining rural road assets is Rs 21,700 Crores (PMGSY 3.2 lac km & Non PMGSY 25.5 lac km; Source: Planning Commission report). In view of the cost of waterproofing of about Rs 12,000 per lane km for the top layer and side slopes, the rain inflicted damages can be brought down very economically and thus substantial amount of the Rs. 21,700 Crores can be saved every year.

Zydex Nanotechnology: Adoption in India

a.       Experimented & validated on trial stretches for 4 years in PMGSY/NHAI (BOT).

b.      Commercially adopted by BRO (Defense), BOT Contractors, State of Karnataka for their rural roads.

Hundreds of KM of roads already paved, show a remarkably improved performance which has been observed and documented.

Quicker adoption of this new nanotechnology in India, to build moisture-resistant, long-lasting roads would potentially save billions of Rupees for tax payers.

Zydex Nanotechnology: Global Adoption

a.      USA has adopted it since last 3 years (Thousands of miles already paved with Zydex Nanotechnology).

b.      Canada adopted it in last 2 years

c.       Spain adopted it in last 1 year

d.      Nigeria adopted it for last 3 years

e.      Mexico, Columbia, Peru have adopted it in last 1-2 years

f.        Germany, UK, Sweden, Poland, Russia, Czech Republic, Turkey, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan etc. are starting to test and are looking forward to adoption this year.

Sustainability through Innovation: The Indian contribution to the world

Zydex nanotechnology will immensely contribute to Global sustainability, as it will enable building Future Green Roads by conserving the limiting natural resources like bitumen and aggregates for future generations.

Source : Anish George