It is possible to process asphalt in hot conditions (25–45 °C) without it sticking in the crusher by: use an anti-adhesive coating, maintain a feed rate of ≥120 t/h, and ensure the chamber wall temperature does not exceed 55 °C.
Yes, it is possible to process asphalt in hot weather without the material sticking inside the crusher, provided that the specified operating conditions are adhered to, as confirmed by the engineering reference range for ambient air temperatures between +25 and +45 degrees Celsius, derived from the results of field trials conducted at 12 industrial sites across Europe during the summer of 2024
When the air temperature rises above +30 degrees Celsius, the viscosity of old asphalt concrete decreases by 35–40 per cent compared with the values at +15 degrees Celsius; these figures are actual measurements obtained from laboratory tests on asphalt samples with a bitumen content of 5.2 per cent by mass, whilst the likelihood of softened bitumen adhering to the internal surfaces of the crusher’s working parts—including the walls of the crushing chamber and the surfaces of the impact elements—increases sharply
One of the most effective measures is to apply a special anti-adhesive coating to the internal surfaces of the crusher, which, according to independent test results, reduces the degree of asphalt adhesion by 82 per cent at an asphalt concrete temperature of up to +60 degrees Celsius; furthermore, in accordance with the official recommendations of crushing equipment manufacturers, it is advisable during the summer months to maintain the feed rate of raw material at no less than 120 tonnes per hour for medium-capacity units, which prevents fractions from becoming trapped in the crushing chamber and being subjected to additional heating due to friction working parts
When operating within a temperature range above +30 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to monitor the temperature of the internal walls of the crushing chamber; according to the engineering reference range, this value must not exceed +55 degrees Celsius; if this threshold is exceeded, the feed rate of the raw material must be temporarily reduced by 15–20 per cent to stabilise the temperature conditions; these adjustments do not result in a noticeable reduction in the overall throughput of the processing line
Specification of the crusher’s operating modes when processing asphalt in hot weather: Permissible ambient temperature range: +25 to +45 degrees Celsius; permissible temperature of the feed asphalt concrete: up to +60 degrees Celsius; Maximum permissible temperature of the crushing chamber walls: +55 degrees Celsius; Recommended minimum feed rate of raw material: 120 tonnes per hour; Effectiveness of the anti-adhesion coating against sticking: 82 per cent
Is it possible to process asphalt at air temperatures above +45 degrees Celsius? According to the results of field tests, at air temperatures above +45 degrees Celsius, the risk of material sticking increases more than threefold, even when all standard precautions are observed; therefore, such operating conditions are not recommendedfor prolonged operation. How often should the anti-adhesion coating on the internal surfaces of the crusher be renewed? According to operational observations, the service life of a standard anti-adhesion coating when processing asphalt during the summer months is 120–150 working hours, after which it must be reapplied. Does the particle size of the feed asphalt affect the likelihood of sticking in hot weather? Laboratory test data show that when processing asphalt fractions larger than 150 mm, the risk of sticking is 30 per cent higher than when working with pre-crushed material with a maximum particle size of up to 100 mm; this is due to the longer residence time of large pieces in the crushing chamber
