Rising to the surface with BituChem's NatraTex

When is a resin bound surface not a resin bound surface?  When it’s NatraTex.  BALI Registered Affiliate member BituChem Asphalt’s NatraTex offers a surfacing system which looks similar to the untrained eye, but is distinct from the myriad of resin bound surfacing options currently on the market.  BALI’s Technical Officer (Policy & Research) Owen Baker spent a morning discussing the NatraTex system with Mark Stott, marketing director at BituChem, and discovered how it differs from traditional resin bound systems you’re likely to be more familiar with. 

Before discussing NatraTex, it’s worth reviewing traditional resin bound surfaces and how they work. Most resin bound surfacing systems are created by mixing a clear resin with aggregate.  The resin is a glue-like substance which, when mixed with an aggregate and another chemical, forms a sticky liquid, designed to be laid over a suitable sub-base.  The mixing process is carried out in-situ, whilst both elements are cold, with machines that resemble cement mixers.  The resin is thermosetting, which means it cures or sets after being mixed with another chemical.  Resin bound surfaces can be laid by hand, and the curing process usually takes no longer than 24 hours to set.