Editorial pubs.acs.org/EF
Cite This: Energy Fuels 2019, 33, 2603−2603
55th Petersen Asphalt Research Conference
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prises, Colas USA, Dongre Laboratory Services, Eiffage, Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc., GAF, Graymont, Husky Energy, Ingevity, Kraton, Michelin, MTE, NAPA, PRI, and US Polyco] and exhibitors [AMAP, Anton Paar, Chemco Systems, CRC Capital Resin Corporation, Dow/Dupont, Infratest USA, Malvern Analytical, and TA Instruments] that joined PARC 2018, tremendously helping to make this event a success. Everyone is welcome to join in 2019!
n behalf of the Petersen Asphalt Research Conference (PARC) organizing committee, I am very pleased to introduce this special section of Energy & Fuels devoted to papers that were presented at the 55th annual PARC in 2018. The mission of PARC is to bring together researchers and practitioners, highway officials, producers, suppliers and users, academia, and others who are working to advance the understanding, characterization, specification, design, usage, and performance of asphalt or bitumen materials. For over 50 years, research presented and discussed at the PARC has led to innovative asphalt materials and safer, longer lasting, and more cost-effective and environmentally friendly highways in North America and throughout the world. The 55th Annual PARC, hosted by Western Research Institute, took place July 11−14, 2018 in Laramie, Wyoming. A total of 160 attendees from North America and around the world attended the 55 oral presentations. As a way to expand the PARC technical outreach, chemistry-related presentations were given an opportunity to be peer-reviewed and published in Energy & Fuels, an American Chemical Society (ACS) publication. As a result, nine articles were submitted by PARC authors and accepted by the journal after revisions. They are representative of the themes of the conference that included asphalt binder chemistry analysis and aging, asphalt material physical evaluation, binder and mixture testing, pavement evaluation, and asphalt modification and recycling. Understanding asphalt chemistry and how it impacts asphalt properties has never been more important for the asphalt community because crude oil sources and processes have changed significantly over the past decade. Furthermore, additional changes are on the horizon with new economic and environmentally driven trends and/or regulations. For instance, new sulfur regulations on bunker fuels under IMO2020 will be coming in force very soon. The nature of petroleum asphalt chemistry has always been a challenge to comprehend. Asphalt, being the glue that allows for the construction of flexible pavements or roofs, is such an important material widely used in modern infrastructure. As a result, it is important to understand how to make best use of it, how to measure and control its aging, and how to properly manage its extensive reuse, with asphalt being the most recycled product in the world. It is encouraging to see new approaches and new test methods to address these issues, such as those presented at PARC 2018. I wish that you enjoy the reading of these articles that provide a glimpse into the latest advances in the body of asphalt research. Some of these articles will hopefully be of long lasting value for the asphalt researcher and practitioner community at large. We hope to see you July 14−17, 2019 for the 56th edition of PARC, again in Laramie, Wyoming. Please take this opportunity to share your latest research and then publish it in Energy & Fuels, a highly recognized journal that graciously extends this opportunity to the annual PARC. I would not finish without giving a special thanks to the sponsors [ExxonMobil−Imperial Oil (Platinum), CEI Enter© 2019 American Chemical Society
Jean-Pascal Planche, Co-chair of PARC
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Asphalt and Petroleum Technologies, Western Research Institute, 3474 North Third Street, Laramie, Wyoming 82070, United States
AUTHOR INFORMATION
ORCID
Jean-Pascal Planche: 0000-0002-0104-916X Notes
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
Special Issue: Petersen Asphalt Research Conference Published: April 18, 2019 2603
DOI: 10.1021/acs.energyfuels.9b00761 Energy Fuels 2019, 33, 2603−2603
