Ohio DOT working on Color Changing Asphalt

[kernals12]

I had inquired about making white asphalt to reduce the urban heat island effect and to increase pavement durability. I also said that a pavement that was thermochromic, which changes color at a certain temperature, would be even better. Well the Ohio DOT was way ahead of me on that. Way back in 2017, they released this study on color changing pavements. They devised a thermochromic dye which was 12 degrees cooler than normal asphalt binder on a hot summer day, and interestingly, it was 5 degrees warmer on a winter day, which means less ice build up and less cracking. I've read that thermochromic powder is currently very expensive, so hopefully they find a way to make it cheaply and soon.

[renegade]

Sure they are.