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Test rig for road surface installed in Biel
19.09.2022 To improve the lifespan of foot and cycle path bridges, parking zones or terraces made of wood-based materials, researchers at BHF’s School of Architecture, Wood and Civil Engineering BFH-AHB have developed an innovative polyurea-based liquid plastic coating. They are now testing it using a special rig in Biel.
Anyone parking their car at BFH-AHB on Solothurnstrasse in Biel will be part of a research project in future. Researchers have installed a test rig at the car park barrier which they are using to test an innovative surface coating for roads and pavements made of wood-based materials. This project involves collaboration between the Institute for Materials and Wood Technology IWH and the Institute for Timber Construction, Structures and Architecture IHTA.
![Verbauter Prüfstand vor der Einfahrtsbarriere des Parkplatzes der BFH-AHB an der Solothurnstrasse 102, Biel](/.imaging/mte/bfh-theme/image-and-gallery-xxs/dam/bfh.ch/departementsinhalte/ahb/2022/news/forschung/Pruefstand/AHB-Pruefstand-verbaut.jpg/jcr:content/AHB-Pruefstand-verbaut.jpg)
Liquid plastic has many benefits
The protective surface is a coating using a polyurea-based liquid plastic system. It has a low installation height (a few mm) which can consist of up to four layers, depending on the application. This means it has a low surface mass of around 4.5kg/m2. By comparison, asphalt coatings have a thickness of at least 6cm and a surface mass of around 140kg/m2. Using a liquid plastic system reduces the overall mass which is a major benefit, particularly in renovation projects – such as older bridges.
Another key benefit of polyurea-based liquid plastic systems is their low processing temperature of 60 to 70°C compared with asphalt surfaces (200 to 220°C). This means the wooden substrate heats up less, reducing the formation of water vapour. As a result, fewer gas bubbles are produced during application in the boundary layer between the coating and substrate, reducing the risk of biological infestation and ensuring good adhesion between plastic and wood.