Dry Process Crumb Rubber Modifier
Crumb Rubber ASPHALT Technology
What is DPCRM Rubber Asphalt?
Dry Prcoess Crumb Rubber Modifier (DPCRM) is an innovative solution rooted in established technology that’s gaining renewed traction across the U.S. It’s created by grinding whole scrap automobile tires into crumb rubber, which is then incorporated into asphalt mixes and laid during paving. As the largest market for recycled tires, rubberized asphalt puts approximately 220 million pounds—or around 12 million tires—to use each year. With rising interest, more states are rediscovering and refining this method to meet modern infrastructure demands.
Why Choose DPCRM Rubber Asphalt?
DPCRM, which stands for Dry Process Crumb Rubber Asphalt Modifier, is a hot mix asphalt modification solution—distinct from traditional liquid additives. Over 4 million tons of DPCRM-enhanced asphalt have delivered exceptional performance in some of the most demanding climates and traffic conditions for more than a decade.
Compared to polymer-modified asphalt, DPCRM offers a range of plant-side benefits. Polymer mixes can be sticky and problematic to handle, often leading to slower production and system buildup. In contrast, DPCRM runs clean through your plant, improving efficiency and reducing operational headaches.
Key Advantages of DPCRM:
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Cost Savings: Achieves the performance of a two-grade bump at a savings of $2–$4 per mix ton
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Faster Production: Lower viscosity allows for 10–15% faster plant throughput than with polymer mixes
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Reduced Waste: Minimal residue left in truck beds, lowering cleanout waste and improving sustainability
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Easier Compaction: Typically requires 10–20% fewer roller passes to meet compaction specs
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Durability in Thinlays: Outperforms unmodified hot mix asphalt in thinner lift applications, saving material without sacrificing quality
DPCRM and the Value of Engineered Crumb Rubber Asphalt
Today’s road managers—especially in the public sector—face the challenge of maximizing results with limited budgets. DPCRM offers a smart solution. Its lower production costs compared to polymer-modified alternatives often translate to lower project bids. That means longer-lasting roads delivered at a better value.
Incorporating DPCRM into your process is simple. The engineered crumb rubber modifier is introduced during mix production—similar to how fine aggregate is added. It reacts with the heated asphalt binder during mixing, storage, and transport, resulting in a mix that performs like a polymer-modified pavement, but at a fraction of the cost.
Here is how the DPCRM process works:
A chemically Engineered Crumb Rubber is fed into your plant during mix production, just like a fine aggregate. The heated binder reacts with the rubber during mixing, storage and transport. The delivered mix lays and performs like a polymer-modified pavement, but at a fraction of the cost.
Over the past decade, researchers in the U.S. have tried to develop an approach that will allow the introduction of DPCRM in a way that is both cost-effective and free of the engineering challenges that have limited the use of crumb rubber modifiers (CRM) in the past. Chemically engineered crumb rubber introduced like an aggregate into asphalt plants during mix production through a dry process meets those customer needs.