According to WPB, researchers at the University of Parma, working with Italian construction materials manufacturer Mapei and motorway operator Brebemi, have secured an industrial patent for a new asphalt additive designed to improve the durability of porous asphalt pavements and increase the use of recycled materials. Announced on October 9, 2026, the patented technology, known as MAP, has already been applied on Italy's A35 Brebemi motorway and could support the wider adoption of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in high-performance road surfaces.
The patent, officially titled "Antioxidant and Anti-Raveling Association for Porous Bituminous Mixtures," carries Italian application number 102024000018484. The invention was developed through research led by Antonio Montepara and Rosalba Simeone at the University of Parma. Although the patent application was filed in 2024 and the technology had already entered field testing, the university's October 2026 announcement confirmed the successful completion of the Italian patent examination process.
The MAP formulation combines two chemical components: diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), an isocyanate compound, and a specific organosilane. Added in relatively small quantities to asphalt mixtures, the formulation is designed to reduce bitumen oxidation and improve adhesion between the binder and mineral aggregates. Its principal function is to limit aggregate loss, commonly known as raveling, while helping the asphalt binder retain its mechanical and rheological properties during service.
These properties are particularly important for porous or drainage asphalt, which is designed to allow rainwater to pass through interconnected voids within the pavement surface. Such mixtures can improve surface drainage, but their open structure makes aggregate retention and resistance to aging especially important. Over time, oxidation can stiffen the bitumen binder, while repeated traffic loading and environmental exposure may weaken aggregate bonding. Progressive aggregate loss can reduce pavement durability and affect its drainage performance.
The patented additive addresses these problems while allowing higher proportions of reclaimed asphalt pavement to be incorporated into new mixtures. RAP consists of material recovered from existing roads during milling and rehabilitation operations. Although recycling this material reduces the need for new aggregates and petroleum-derived binder, incorporating substantial RAP content into porous asphalt can create challenges related to aged binder properties, mixture durability, and aggregate adhesion.
According to the University of Parma, the MAP technology enables the reuse of up to 35% reclaimed asphalt material in high-performance porous mixtures while maintaining mechanical properties and durability comparable to conventional asphalt. Laboratory testing has indicated improved resistance to oxidation and aggregate loss, including under demanding conditions involving freeze-thaw cycles and mechanical wear.
The technology has also progressed beyond laboratory research. It has been used on the A35 Brebemi motorway, operated by the Aleatica group, where asphalt removed during maintenance is recovered, processed, and reused in new pavement mixtures. The approach has been described by the project partners as "kilometer-zero asphalt" because recovered materials are reused locally rather than transported away as waste.
However, the maximum 35% recycling capability should be distinguished from the recycled content already documented in the field. In July 2025, the University of Parma reported that some A35 pavement sections contained 25% recycled asphalt material and were undergoing continued performance monitoring. Higher recycling percentages were being tested, but the available announcements do not establish that all installed pavement sections contain 35% RAP.
The environmental benefits are another important aspect of the development. According to a life-cycle assessment conducted by the University of Parma, the recycled asphalt approach could reduce global warming potential by up to 20% compared with conventional pavement. The reduction is associated with the reuse of existing asphalt materials, lower demand for newly produced resources, and reduced transportation requirements. The 20% figure represents an assessed environmental benefit under the study's comparison conditions, not a universally verified reduction in direct CO₂ emissions across every road project.
Mapei's technical documentation identifies the product as a liquid antioxidant and anti-raveling additive suitable for asphalt mixtures incorporating substantial RAP content. The manufacturer recommends determining the appropriate additive dosage and recycled-material content through preliminary laboratory mix-design testing. This requirement is particularly relevant for porous pavements, where improvements in binder adhesion must be achieved without compromising the mixture's structural and drainage characteristics.
The technology is also relevant to future bitumen demand. Recycling larger quantities of existing asphalt can reduce the requirement for newly manufactured mineral aggregates and fresh petroleum-derived binder in suitable projects. However, the MAP formulation does not eliminate conventional bitumen or replace the entire asphalt binder. Instead, it supports the reuse of aged asphalt materials while seeking to preserve the performance of the resulting mixture.
Despite the reported laboratory results and successful field applications, further monitoring will be important to establish long-term performance under different traffic loads, climates, and maintenance conditions. The available announcements do not provide a verified increase in pavement service life, a quantified reduction in future maintenance expenditure, or a comprehensive assessment of the technology's economic performance across different road networks.
For the international bitumen and asphalt industry, the significance of MAP lies in its combination of patented chemical technology, reclaimed asphalt reuse, and practical motorway application. Rather than introducing a recycling concept that remains confined to the laboratory, the Italian project demonstrates how binder chemistry and pavement engineering can be combined to support more durable, resource-efficient road construction.
By WPB
Italy Asphalt Innovation, MAP Asphalt Additive, University of Parma, Mapei, Brebemi A35, Porous Asphalt, Drainage Asphalt, Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement, RAP Recycling, Bitumen Oxidation, Asphalt Raveling, Organosilane, MDI, Sustainable Road Construction, Asphalt Durability, Low Carbon Pavement
