On December 11, 2025, the 2025 NEXCEL Forum on Pavement Materials was held. This forum was chaired by Professor HUANG Songchang from Research Institute of Highway Ministry of Transport, NEXCEL TAC member, and four well-known experts delivered insightful presentations and shared their research and application experience. This forum attracted over 5000 viewers.
Mr. Waseem Khatri, Lead Engineer from Saudi Aramco, systematically analyzed the performance and benefits of recycled plastics and fiber reinforced asphalt concrete pavement. He also introduced successful application cases in Saudi Arabia and China, and introduced the development direction of low-carbon asphalt concrete.
Professor CHEN Meizhu from Wuhan University of Technology summarized the current research status of polymers, waste rubber powder and graphene modified asphalt. She highlighted a low-cost hydrocarbon-based graphene modified asphalt mixture, which possesses both high performance and environmental friendliness, and is especially suitable for road engineering in humid and hot areas.
Associate Professor LU Zichen from Tongji University analyzed the reasons for the cracking and poor durability of cement concrete pavements. He introduced the gradient structure design, preparation technology and performance of magnetic-responsive polymer latex modified concrete, and presented a demonstration case of highway in Henan Province.
Professor LI Haijian from China Building Materials Academy summarized the latest advancements in phase change energy storage materials and technologies. He emphasized the formulation design, preparation process, and snow and ice melting properties of phase change asphalt mixtures, and also introduced a demonstration case on the Meitai Highway in Shaanxi Province.
In the salon/Q&A session, experts discussed topics such as the performance, cost, and engineering applications of recycled plastics, fibers, graphene, polymer latex, and phase change materials in asphalt mixtures.
The 2025 NEXCEL Series of Forums came to a successful end. Six forums invited 26 well-known experts, including three Saudi Aramco experts, and attracted more than 30,000 viewers. NEXCEL aims to bring the most advanced research results, the best products and practical applications to everyone, enhance the understanding of sustainable non-metallic materials, and contribute to the realization of global low-carbon goals.