From Lab to Lane: How ARCA by Surface Tech Delivers Performance You Can Trust
In the asphalt industry, new materials and technologies often face an uphill battle. Between specification inertia, uncertainty about long-term performance, and operational compatibility, it’s not enough to have a promising idea—it has to work, consistently, in the field and the lab. Engineers, producers, and public agencies all demand solutions that translate theory into real-world results.
At Surface Tech, we built ARCA (Aramid Reinforced Composite Asphalt) to meet that challenge. Through verified lab studies and high-volume, full-scale performance testing, ARCA proves that it doesn’t just promise durability—it delivers it.
That’s why we participated in independent third-party testing conducted by Rowan University, a respected leader in asphalt research. Their team used Digital Image Correlation (DIC), a state-of-the-art imaging technique that tracks strain and crack behavior in real time, to evaluate the performance of fiber-reinforced asphalt.
In their peer-reviewed study, Rowan University compared multiple asphalt mixtures: one using a polyolefin/aramid blend similar to the competitors 1lb bag, and another incorporating sasobit-coated pure aramid fiber—the foundation of our ARCA solution. The results were striking.
The ARCA mix demonstrated up to 1.6x higher fracture energy, reduced crack propagation by 22%, and fatigue resistance increased by up to 47% in CTindex values. DIC imaging also showed ARCA mixes diverted and slowed crack paths—indicating enhanced stress distribution.
In contrast, the competior polyolefin blend showed little improvement over the control mix. The reason? It contained less than 25% aramid fiber, with the rest being polyolefin filler. In reinforcement applications, purity and dosage matter. ARCA delivers both.
Of course, lab results are just the beginning. ARCA has also been proven at the NCAT Test Track, the gold standard for field performance validation in our industry. Our test lane has endured more than 10 million ESALs under live truck traffic. The Pavement Condition Index? A perfect 100.
What makes this more than just a field trial is how we ensured accuracy. Using Surface Tech’s precision dosing system, we delivered fiber into the mix with real-time accuracy every 2 seconds. Daily logs confirmed that every ton contained exactly 2.1 oz of pure aramid—per ASTM D8395 standards. The fiber was evenly dispersed, no clumps, no guesswork. If it wasn’t in the mix, it wasn’t going to work—and with ARCA, it was in the mix, every time.
ARCA doesn’t rely on hope or hand-tossed fiber bags. It delivers certainty. Our DFNDR /CMDR precision dosing system produces daily performance reports, tracks mix input per ton and ensures fiber dispersion throughout the process. Whether you're a plant operator, or a private/public project owner, that kind of visibility matters.
We’ve also taken the next step in transparency. ARCA fully complies with the ASTM D8395 for aramid fiber in asphalt of 2.1oz /ton and comes with a published Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). This isn’t just a marketing badge—it’s a third-party verified transparent document that supports compliance with ESG goals. When low-carbon asphalt matters, ARCA meets the moment.
It's time to rethink your reinforcement. Backed by lab science, proven on the track, and built with full transparency, ARCA by Surface Tech is ready when you are.
Download the Rowan study and watch our NCAT Video here.
Or email info@surface-tech.com to start the conversation.
