What Is Emulsion Bitumen?

Holding a share of 20% global bitumen use, bitumen emulsions are basically an O/W (Oil on Water solution) a dispersion of bitumen particles on water, stabilized with the addiction of surfactants (Surface active agents) or most commonly known as emulsifiers, that will permit the bitumen to de-diluted in water. They are primarily used for tack coats that use in between hot mix asphalt layers and prime coats for thin hot mix surfacing layers or a chip seal pavements.

Bitumen emulsions are divided into three categories:

  • Anionic with negatively charged globules
  • Cationic with positively charged globules
  • Non-ionic with neutral globules.

BITUMEN CSS-1h
BITUMEN CSS-1h
Property Min Max Test Method
Viscosity, Say bolt Furol at 25°C,SFS 20 100 ASTM D244
Storage stability Test, 24-h, % 1 ASTM D6930
Particle Charge Test Positive ASTM D244
Sieve Test, % 0.1 ASTM D6933
Cement  Mixing Test,% 2.0 ASTM 6935
Distillation
Residue % 59 ASTM D244
Test On Residue From Distillation
Penetration, 25°C(77°F), 100g, 5s 40 90 ASTM D5
Ductility, 25°C(77°F), 5 cm/min, cm 40 ASTM D113
Solubility in trichloroethylene, % 97.5 ASTM D2042

BITUMEN K160
BITUMEN K160
Property Min Max Test Method
Viscosity, Say bolt Furol at 50°C,SFS 20 100 ASTM D244
Storage stability test, 24-h, % 1 ASTM D6930
Demulsibility, 35 ml, 8% Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate, % 40 ASTM D6936
Particle Charge Test Positive ASTM D244
Sieve Test, % 0.1 ASTM D6933
Distillation
Solvents, By Volume Of Emulsion % 3 ASTM D6997
Residue % 60 ASTM D244
Test On Residue From Distillation
Penetration, 25°C(77°F), 100g, 5s 100 250 ASTM D5
Ductility, 25°C(77°F), 5 cm/min, cm 40 ASTM D113
Solubility in trichloroethylene, % 97.5 ASTM D2042

BITUMEN K170
BITUMEN K170
Property Min Max Test Method
Viscosity, Say bolt Furol at 50°C,SFS 20 ASTM D7496
Storage stability test, 24-h, % 1 ASTM D6930
Particle charge test positive ASTM D244
Sieve test, % 0.1 ASTM D6933
Distillation:
Oil distillate, by volume of emulsion, % 4 ASTM D6997
Residue, % 67 ASTM D6997
Test on residue from distillation:
Penetration, 25°C (77°F), 100 g, 5 s 60 250 ASTM D5
Ductility, 25°C (77°F), 5 cm/min, cm 20 ASTM D113
Solubility in trichloroethylene, % 97.5 ASTMD2042

Packing

  • Drum 208 litr (0.8 mm Thickness )

Application

  1. Emulsions are used in bituminous road construction work. They are especially helpful for maintenance and patch repair works.
  2. Emulsion can be used in wet weather even when it is raining.
  3. Also emulsions have been used in soil stabilization, particularly for stabilization of sands in desert areas.
  4. A rapid setting type emulsion is suitable for surface dressing and penetration macadam type of construction.
  5. Medium setting type is used for premixing with coarse aggregates.
  6. In case of fine aggregates, the surface area of aggregate is more and as a result long duration of time is required to mix the emulsion.
  7. Therefore slow setting emulsion is preferred which gives sufficient time for uniform blending of the mix.

ADVANTAGES & LIMITATIONS OF BITUMEN EMULSION

ADVANTAGES

  • The main properties of bitumen are preserved in emulsion mixes since emulsions do not need hot mixing. Generally cold mixing or just slightly warming the ingredients of the emulsion mix are done for construction of pavements.
  • Emulsion can be used in humid weather even when it is raining.
  • Emulsions possess anti-stripping properties.
  • Emulsions with lower viscosity or thinner consistency improve spreadability and allows better coating of the bitumen on the surface of aggregate.
  • There is no depletion during laying and storage.
  • Since emulsions are water based, there is less effect on the environment.
  • It is the least energy intensive of all construction material: there is no need to heat.

LIMITATIONS

  • Not a single type of emulsion is suitable for every work. It depends upon whether the aggregate is acidic or basic in nature.
  • The setting time may vary depending on the air temperature, wind velocity and type of emulsion.
  • There is a wide range of curing time; a suitable emulsion mix needs to be designed for a particular need, i.e. we need to determine for each case, the optimum quantity of emulsion based on zone, type of emulsion, mix grade and desired mechanical properties
  • It has limited storage time (ranging from few days to six months)

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