Graphene products supplier Directa Plus and its partner Iterchimica are set to trial enhanced asphalt on a section of road in Oxfordshire, UK.

In cooperation with Oxfordshire County Council, the companies will resurface the road section with the G+ upgraded asphalt super modifier containing Directa Plus G+ graphene.

Construction company Skanska is serving as prime contractor.

As part of the trial, an asphalt concrete with a graphene-enhanced super modifier will be laid.

Two upper layers of a 750m long section of road will also be refurbished.

Directa Plus founder and CEO Giulio Cesareo said: “This trial is an important step for Directa Plus and Iterchemica in partnership, in proving the business and use case for the next generation of graphene enhanced road surfaces.

“This technology will allow governments to supply better quality roads for drivers and other road users, at better value for money and in a more environmentally sustainable way.”

Comparing the super modifier with traditional asphalt surfacing, the trial will assess service life, resistance to vehicle passage, resistance to deformation and permanent plastic deformation.

Directa Plus has previously carried out successful trials in Italy.

Once laid, asphalt concrete with a super modifier can be completely recycled, reducing the extraction of new materials from quarries and first-use bitumen.

Cesareo added: “Working with leading companies such as Iterchemica to bring the benefits of G+ graphene enhanced products and materials to market is a key part of Directa Plus’ strategy across all our key industrial verticals.”