K2 Bitumen Sdn. Bhd. (K2B) is established in the state of Perak, with a strong commitment to producing environmentally sustainable and eco-friendly road materials.  K2B actively develops green products using recycled materials that support a low-carbon economy and contribute to reducing the environmental impact of road construction  in line with Malaysia’s SDG.

R&D is the driver behind the innovation of new products for our constantly evolving industries in order for the group to stay ahead of the competition. Kemakmuran Group acquired a complete range of equipment in K2 Bitumen R&D laboratory that some units are even the only ones available in the nation. Substantial investments were channeled into this division and it had been proven to be well worth the resources invested in them.

Through the application of this technology that recycles used tyres, plastic materials and disposable rubber gloves, K2 Bitumen is contributing in effectively reducing environmental pollution from burning of these discarded materials especially tyres and the prevention of potential hazards of fire disasters and secondary pollution. This is essentially; Paving the way for a cleaner, low-carbon future.

Performance of Crumb Rubber Tire-Modified Bitumen for Malaysian Climate Regions

Ronald Blab, Juraidah Ahmad, Ekarizan Shaffie, Norbaya Sidek, Johannes Mirwald, Lukas Eberhardsteiner and Bernhard Hofko

1. Institute of Transportation, Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, TU Wien, Karlsplatz 13/E230, 1040 Vienna, Austria
2. School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Selangor, Malaysia; eka@uitm.edu.my (E.S.); norbayasidek@uitm.edu.my (N.S.)
3. Institute for Infrastructure Engineering and Sustainable Management (IESM), Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam 40450, Selangor, Malaysia
   * Correspondence: ronald.blab@tuwien.ac.at

Abstract: Researchers are increasingly concerned about the vast amounts of waste rubber tires pro- duced globally, which contribute significantly to environmental pollution. The potential of incorporating waste rubber tires to modify bitumen has garnered considerable interest. This study assesses pavement design temperatures according to SUPERPAVE standards for representative Malaysian regions. The assessment is based on hourly air temperature data and simulates temperature diffusion in typical Malaysian road pavements using the finite difference method (FDM). Tests on neat bitumen (PEN 60/70) and crumb rubber-modified bitumen (CR-TMB) samples evaluated their physical and rheological properties across various temperatures and aging stages. These tests were conducted using the dynamic shear rheometer, rotational viscometer, and bending beam rheometer.

Acknowledgments: The authors express their gratitude to K2 Bitumen Sdn. Bhd and Kemaman Bitumen Company for providing the research materials.
Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Exploring The Effectiveness of Crumb Rubber Modified Asphalt (CRMA): A Comprehensive Overview On Submerged Roads In Malaysia

Samsul Jaharudin*, Ekarizan Shaffie*, Norshahriah Bahari
1 K2 Bitumen Sdn Bhd, Puchong, Selangor D.E., 47180, Malaysia
2 Institute for Infrastructure Engineering & Sustainable Management, Universiti Teknologi
MARA Shah Alam, Selangor D.E., 40450, Malaysia
3 School of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi MARA Shah
Alam, Selangor D.E., 40450, Malaysia
*samsul@kemakmuran.com.my & eka@uitm.edu.my

Abstract: As Malaysia is located within the equatorial region, heavy rainfalls and thunderstorms are common occurrences, often leading to flooding that affects the extensive road network in the East Coast of the Malaysian Peninsular. Some flooding involves stagnant water that may remain for several days before subsiding. The impact of moisture on the pavement surface is extensively documented with damages often includes stripping of the asphalt due to the compromised properties of the bitumen. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the “special mix” bitumen known as Crumb Rubber Modified Bitumen, CRMB, as a replacement for the existing bitumen grade against moisture induced damages.
Test samples were collected from flooded affected areas namely Federal Road FT 02 Sec 321, Sec 331 and FT 62 Sec 0 with two of the areas flooded twice within the same year. Core samples from FT 222, Sec 0, using conventional bitumen, were also tested as a control sample. The roads were maintained using two methods, Mill & Pave (MP) 50mm and Overlay 50mm. Maintenance work was conducted in different years to ensure a more comprehensive analysis. The moisture susceptibility test (AASHTO T283) was used to compare the performance of CRMB against conventional bitumen.

The findings indicate that the CRMA with Mill and Pave 50mm (Section 331) shows the highest moisture re-
sistance with a TSR % of 92.6%, making it the most effective for flood-prone areas. In contrast, the CRMA overlay and AC 14 with Mill & Pave 50mm treatments perform poorly, with TSR % values of 45.4% and 45.2%, respectively. This highlights the benefits of CRMB in enhancing road durability in areas prone to heavy rainfall and flooding. This improvement is critical for enhancing the longevity and safety of road networks in such regions, potentially leading to reduced maintenance costs and disruptions.