Asphalt Coating Tackles Leading Causes of Deadly Crashes
March 16, 2026
Darkness and rain cause at least half of all traffic accidents and fatalities, but there isn’t an economical way to make roads easier to see at night or help them shed water. LSU has created a surface coating that glows under headlights and repels water. The technology could prevent thousands of accidents and injuries and prevent billions in health costs and auto repairs.
On uncoated pavement, a drop of water flattens and sticks to the surface. On the coated pavement, the drop remains round and easily rolls off the roadway.
"We blended a superhydrophobic or extremely water-repellent material and a luminescent compound in an asphalt-based coating. Water that hits the coated asphalt flows into drainage ditches, reducing the risks from rain,” said Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor Mostafa Elseifi. “At the same time, the coating glows under headlights, which makes the road easier to see. At night, visibility is a challenge, especially in rural areas. Curves and intersections become more hazardous.”
More than half of the United States’ traffic fatalities happen at night, according to the most recent figures available from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (2023). Meanwhile, rain causes half of all traffic accidents. Those accidents cause injuries that require hundreds of billions of dollars in medical care and lost productivity, as well as property damage.
Elseifi believes the new coating can slash those numbers. The coating, applied to existing concrete or asphalt, incorporates nanoparticles of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the same material used in non-stick cookware. However, the LSU coating does not contain perfluorooctanoic acid (also known as a “forever chemical”) nor was it used in making the PTFE.
License this Invention
LSU, through its Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization (ITC), is seeking partners to help bring the discovery to market. For licensing inquiries, contact techlicensing@lsu.edu
Extensive lab testing by Elseifi and his PhD student, Dr. Tanvir Sarkar, shows the coating boosts pavement’s ability to repel water, reduces ice formation and improves nighttime visibility. The coating is cost-efficient, durable and by minimizing water damage can make pavement last longer.
“This is the kind of innovation that speaks directly to Louisiana’s needs,” said Robert Twilley, LSU vice chancellor of research and economic development. “We know the dangers of driving on wet, dark roads. Dr. Elseifi and his team have turned cutting-edge science into a practical solution that could save lives, reduce accidents, and even extend the life of our roadways. It’s a perfect example of how LSU research drives real-world impact.”
Elseifi is working with the LSU Office of Innovation & Technology Commercialization (ITC) to protect his discovery.
“This discovery can be integrated into existing road systems in a cost-effective way,” said Grace Myers, a senior commercialization officer with ITC. “We’re excited about the opportunity to bring this innovation to market and partner with industry to make roads safer, not just in Louisiana but around the world.”