Kao Launches Asphalt Recycling Additive 'Danox RAP-400'

Kao Corporation (President: Yoshihiro Hasebe) is launching the asphalt recycling additive 'Danox RAP-400.' This product is an additive for reusing old asphalt pavement materials, capable of handling materials that have deteriorated through repeated use. In addition to contributing to improved durability in pavements using large amounts of old materials, it incorporates plant-based raw materials, thereby reducing environmental impact.

## Background
Asphalt road pavements deteriorate over time and require regular repairs. Approximately 20 million tons of old pavement materials are removed and recycled annually. It is common to mix old pavement materials with 'asphalt recycling additives' that restore the properties of degraded asphalt, along with new asphalt.

However, repeated reuse causes pavement materials to deteriorate, making it difficult to restore them to properties close to the original asphalt even with recycling additives. Furthermore, from the perspective of resource circulation, the proportion of old pavement materials being reused is increasing year by year, creating a demand for new asphalt recycling technologies capable of handling highly deteriorated materials.

## Product Features
Kao is launching 'Danox RAP-400,' an additive that can handle pavement materials that have deteriorated through repeated reuse, with the following three features:

1. Responding to highly deteriorated materials
Asphalt in old pavement materials undergoes deterioration due to heat and ultraviolet rays, leading to agglomeration of hard components, making it hard and brittle. This product disperses these agglomerated components, making the asphalt easier to handle as pavement material.

2. Contributing to pavement durability improvement
Adding this product has been shown to improve water resistance and crack resistance. It is believed that this product enhances the adhesion between asphalt and aggregate (stone/sand) and inhibits water intrusion, making cracks less likely to occur.

3. Incorporating plant-based raw materials
Addressing the demand for low-carbon materials in the road sector, the main ingredients of this product are plant-based.

## Future Outlook
'Danox RAP-400' has already been selected by domestic road construction companies. Kao plans to advance its rollout in the domestic market and subsequently expand into the European, American, and Asian markets.

In the future, the company will continue further technical development toward the realization of pavement using 100% recycled materials.