Monash Uni's Microwave Hybrid Drying Tech Speeds Up Road Construction

• Monash University researchers developed 'microwave convective drying' for road construction.
• This technique uses microwave energy and controlled hot airflow to dry unbound granular materials faster and uniformly.
• Aims to significantly reduce construction delays caused by weather, making asphalt or bitumen sealing easier.
• Current limitation: effective only up to 30-50 mm depth, while road layers are typically over 75 mm thick.
• Future potential includes improving antenna design and microwave power to overcome depth limitations, but economic viability needs full assessment.