Welcome to Mixing Materials, a podcast that is dedicated to professionals in the construction materials industry! Whether you work in a construction materials testing lab, as a civil engineer, or in materials production, this podcast connects you with experts who share valuable industry knowledge and personal experiences.
Our interviews go beyond technical discussions—while we cover topics that impact your daily work, we also dive into the stories, career journeys, and perspectives of the people shaping the industry. Mixing knowledge with personality, we bring the construction materials community closer together.
Yogesh Kumbargeri: Alternative Binder & Asphalt Supply
Interview at Association of Asphalt Paving Technologists (AAPT)
Annual Meeting, Winter 2025
In this episode, we dig into the future of asphalt—yes, really. Yogesh Kumbari joins us to unpack a surprisingly urgent and fascinating topic: alternative binders. As we transition away from fossil fuels, what happens to the oil-derived asphalt we rely on for roads, roofs, and runways?
Kumbari breaks down what alternative binders are (spoiler: they’re often bio-based), why they matter in 2025 and beyond, and what his early research reveals about how these new materials behave. From chemistry surprises to the surprising lack of that familiar "asphalt smell," we explore why simply swapping in new materials isn’t so simple—and why getting it right matters for both the planet and the people working in the asphalt industry.
We also discuss the challenges of scaling from lab to road, the need for new specifications, and the social side of sustainable innovation. Oh, and yes, there’s a quote instead of a theme song: "Don’t judge a book by its cover."
If you're into climate tech, infrastructure, or just love a good "it looks like asphalt but isn't" story, this one’s for you.
Listen Here: Alternative Binder & Asphalt Supply on Spotify