An Experimental Application of Perma-Bind

About the report:

At the request of Mr. R. L. Wyant, Sales Manager for Larutan Products, the producers of Perma-Bind, the Virginia Department of Highways permitted the Burruss Land and Lumber Company, Incorporated of Lynchburg, Virginia, to place an experimental application of this asphaltic material on a shoulder of Interstate 95. Perma-Bind, according to its manufacturer, reduces the maintenance cost on asphaltic pavement by penetrating, binding, sealing, and preserving the asphalt. It is composed almost entirely of Gilsonite, a natural ore, but does contain minute amounts of selected plasticizers, cutter stock, and concentrated resins. Gilsonite is a natural asphalt and is defined in the Glossary of Geology and Related Sciences, published by the American Geological Institute, as:
"one of the varieties of asphalt having a black color, brilliant luster, brown streak, and conchoidal fracture".
By a letter of May 21, 1970, from Mr. Paul F. Cecchini, Assistant Maintenance Engineer, Mr. Wyant was given authorization to place one distributor load of the material on the shoulder of the southbound lane of Interstate 95 from Route 652, Milepost 6.13, to the Route 207 interchange, Milepost 3.31, in Caroline County. Conditions of the agreement were that the Company would furnish the material and apply it to the shoulder at a cost of $0.09 per square yard to the Department. The Highway Department was interested in the use of Perma-Bind on asphalt pavements as a retarder to oxidation, provided the material did not produce any undesirable conditions.

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