What is bitumen emulsion?

Bitumen dispersed in water as droplets typically 0.5 to 5 microns across, stabilised by an emulsifier that gives each droplet an electrical charge. Like charges repel, so the droplets stay suspended instead of coalescing. When applied, the emulsion breaks: the droplets merge, the water separates and evaporates, and a continuous film of the original binder remains.

What is the difference between cationic and anionic bitumen emulsion?

The charge on the bitumen droplets. Cationic droplets are positively charged and bond to negatively charged siliceous aggregate such as granite, quartzite and sandstone. Anionic droplets are negatively charged and bond to positively charged calcareous aggregate such as limestone and dolomite. Opposite charges attract. Cationic dominates globally because it adheres to both aggregate families and works in cooler, damper conditions.

Which bitumen emulsion should be used with granite aggregate?

Cationic. Granite and other siliceous aggregates carry a negatively charged surface, so a positively charged cationic emulsion bonds to it strongly. Using an anionic emulsion on granite gives poor adhesion and typically shows up as stripping, with aggregate shedding under traffic within the first season.

What do RS, MS and SS mean in bitumen emulsion?

Rapid setting, medium setting and slow setting, describing how quickly the emulsion breaks after application. RS breaks almost immediately on contact with aggregate and suits surface dressing and chip seal. MS breaks in minutes and can be mixed with coarse aggregate for cold mix and patching. SS resists breaking long enough to be mixed with fine aggregate and filler, which is why prime coat, slurry seal and micro-surfacing all use SS grades.

What does the h mean in CSS-1h and SS-1h?

Hard, referring to the base bitumen rather than the emulsion. A CSS-1h is made from a harder penetration grade than a CSS-1, so the residual binder left after the water evaporates is harder. That matters in hot climates, where a softer residue can bleed or track in summer heat.

What do the K grades of bitumen emulsion mean?

K-series grades follow European rather than ASTM naming. K1 is rapid setting, K2 medium and K3 slow, and the number after the dash is the bitumen content as a percentage. A K1-60 is a rapid-setting cationic emulsion at 60 percent bitumen. Where a specification uses one system and a supplier quotes the other, the equivalence should be confirmed before ordering.

How long does bitumen emulsion keep in storage?

Roughly three to six months depending on grade and storage conditions, far shorter than penetration or oxidized bitumen which keep two to three years. Droplets settle over time and the emulsion needs recirculating or rolling before use. Order against the project schedule rather than stockpiling, and test material that has been sitting.

What happens if bitumen emulsion freezes?

It is destroyed. Ice crystals rupture the emulsifier films around the droplets, the emulsion breaks permanently and cannot be recovered by warming. This is the single failure mode with no remedy, and it is why route and season matter for shipments passing through cold ports in winter.

Can bitumen emulsion be applied in the rain?

Onto a damp surface, generally yes, because cationic emulsion breaks by reaction with the aggregate rather than relying purely on evaporation. In active rain, no: the emulsion is washed off before it can break. Spraying should be planned around dry windows.

Should tack coat emulsion be diluted?

Usually yes. Cationic slow-setting emulsions are commonly diluted around one part emulsion to one part water, so the required residual binder can be spread evenly at rates as low as 0.15 litres per square metre. Undiluted emulsion at tack coat rates is very difficult to distribute uniformly. Check whether the specification quotes residual or diluted volume before calibrating the distributor.

What is the HS code for bitumen emulsion?

HS 2715.00, bituminous mixtures based on natural asphalt or petroleum bitumen. This is a different heading from penetration and oxidized bitumen, which fall under 2713.20. National tariffs add further digits, so confirm the full code with a customs broker.

What is the minimum order quantity for bitumen emulsion?

100 MT. Packing options are 200 kg new steel drums, 1,000 kg IBC totes, ISO tank or flexitank. Mixed grades in one shipment are accepted provided each grade fills a container. Loading is from Mersin, Jebel Ali or Iskenderun on FOB, CFR or CIF terms.

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