Emulsions

Bitumen emulsions are basically an O/W – Oil on Water solution – A dispersion of bitumen particles on water phase, stabilized with the addition of surfactants – Surface active agents – or most commonly known as emulsifiers. They are primarily used for tack coats for use in between hot mix asphalt layers and prime coats for thin hot mix surfacing layers or a chip seal pavements, other cold mixed asphalt and maintenance binder.

 

Bitumen emulsions are divided into three categories:

 

    * Anionic with negatively charged globules

    * Cationic with positively charged globules

    * Non-ionic with neutral globules.

 

Base on the time of setting after spraying, Bitumen emulsions classification as Quick Set (QS), Rapild set (RS), Medium set (MS) and Slow set(SS)