Rebar for Asphalt: Behind the Breakthrough with Phil Blankenship and Surface Tech
Aramid fiber has long been known for its exceptional tensile properties, but it wasn’t until the asphalt industry began looking for alternative additives that it found its true footing. In a candid conversation with Phil Blankenship, founder of Blankenship Asphalt Tech & Training (BATT), the story of aramid’s rise as “Rebar for Asphalt” comes into sharp focus—revealing how rigorous testing, academic engagement, and technical persistence have shaped a next-generation material solution.
The Turning Point: A Reluctant Beginning Turned Into Relentless R&D
Surface Tech’s journey with aramid started as many do—with skepticism. “When we first reached out to Phil,” recalls our team, “he gave us that classic ‘I’ll take your money’ eye roll.” But that skepticism turned into curiosity, and eventually conviction, as Phil began running lab tests at the Asphalt Institute—where he served as a steward of testing integrity and new technology vetting.
Phil was immediately struck by the unexpected results: significant improvements in cracking resistance. “Asphalt is weak in tensile strength,” Phil explains, “just like concrete. And just like concrete needed rebar, asphalt needs reinforcement too. That’s what aramid provides.”
From Lab to Field: The NCAT Collaboration That Revolutionized Aramid Fiber Testing
One of the most pivotal milestones in Surface Tech’s aramid journey was an early collaboration with the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT). NCAT is renowned for its rigorous, full-scale accelerated pavement testing—and achieving credible Phase 1 lab performance there is a gold standard.
Surface Tech and Phil Blankenship worked side-by-side with the NCAT team to develop and perfect a lab mixing SOP tailored for aramid fiber. Through extensive experimentation on dosing accuracy, sequential mixing steps, and dispersion techniques, they ensured the fiber modeled real-world plant conditions. This joint effort resulted in repeatable lab results, clearing the path for successful testing on the NCAT test track.
“The partnership with NCAT was instrumental adapting lab setup to mirror plant conditions made all the difference,” said Phil.
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The success at NCAT catalyzed the creation of Surface Tech’s Standard Operating Procedure for lab mixing. That SOP has been refined further through collaboration with the University of Nevada, Reno—led by Dr. Elie Hajj and Dr. Adam Hand—who have integrated moisture-resistance and freeze–thaw conditioning protocols like mist-cycle testing into the methodology.
These scientific partnerships not only validate the process but continuously enhance it—fueling innovation and enabling broader performance benefits such as reduced lime usage and improved durability in diverse climates.
Modulus, Fatigue, and a New Path Forward
What began with crack resistance expanded into something even bigger: modulus gains. Through independent testing and field data—including FWD (falling weight deflectometer) tests and flexural fatigue—Surface Tech’s aramid has demonstrated modulus values nearing 1 million psi, rivaling concrete stiffness without the brittleness.
“We’ve seen 200% improvements in fatigue life at 800 micro strain,” Phil shared.“ This is tensile reinforcement, pure and simple. Nothing else does this.”said Phil.
That’s why Phil and others now refer to aramid as Rebar for Asphalt. Unlike paving fabrics that operate in a 2D plane, aramid disperses throughout the mix, forming a 3D reinforcement network that enhances durability, reduces cracking, and resists rutting across the entire pavement layer.
Why This Matters
The implications are huge. Tensile reinforcement means the potential to:
Aramid fiber, especially when precision-dosed with Surface Tech’s proprietary methods, opens the door to thinner, stronger, longer-lasting pavements.
A Peer-to-Peer Engineering Solution
Perhaps most importantly, this isn’t just a product pitch—it’s a peer-to-peer engineering breakthrough. Phil Blankenship’s third-party validation and technical stewardship have brought confidence to public agencies, universities, and engineers who demand evidence before specification.
As Phil says, “You don’t need rebar in concrete to pour it. But you wouldn’t build a bridge without it.”
And now, with aramid, you don’t need rebar in asphalt—but you’d be smart to use it.
To learn more about Rebar for Asphalt and how Surface Tech is changing the way we build and maintain pavements, visit surface-tech.com or schedule a performance consultation.