What does hot-in-place recycling involve in asphalt operations?

Hot-in-place recycling involves a process that reuses existing asphalt material by heating and reworking it on-site. This technique is designed to extend the life of pavements and improve their structural integrity without the need for complete removal and replacement. The method typically involves heating the surface layer of the asphalt, which softens the existing material. Once it is sufficiently heated, the pavement is scarified or milled to create a workable material that can then be reconstituted with new asphalt binder or rejuvenators before being compacted back into place.

This approach not only conserves resources by recycling existing asphalt but also minimizes waste and can reduce costs associated with transportation and new material production. By keeping the process localized, it also enhances efficiency and can lead to a quicker turnaround time for the resurfacing project.

The other options do not apply to hot-in-place recycling, as they mention alternative or unrelated processes, such as using cold asphalt or cooling asphalt for transportation, which diverge from the primary focus of reusing and reworking the existing material on-site through heating.