Microsurfacing

^{Pavements distress as a consequence of a combination of several factors. The main mechanisms of pavement distresses are environment and load-related effects. Load-related effects result in the expansion of structural deteriorations like fatigue cracking and rutting. Environmental effects that include parameters like temperature, oxidation and exposure to sunlight result in thermal cracking, block cracking and raveling. If a proper treatment is not applied at the right time, pavement distresses will extend and will damage subsurface layers.}

^{In order to prevent the deterioration and destruction of pavements, relatively some cost-effective operations can be performed before or even at the beginning of damages.}

^{Preservation of the existing pavements will provide users with good serviceability at an acceptable and safe level. Thus, in recent decades, preventive maintenance operations and applications of pavement repair methods have attracted the attention of researchers and road operators in maintaining pavement conditions at proper serviceability levels.}

^{Among the various types of pavement surface treatments, microsurfacing is one of the most effective cold asphalt mixtures.}

^{Microsurfacing is a preventive maintenance technology which involves application of a mixture of polymer modified emulsion, dense-graded mineral aggregate, mineral filler, water, and additives at ambient temperature.}

^{Microsurfacing seals small cracks and surface imperfections and waterproofs the surface. It provides correction of minor surface profile irregularities, fills ruts and restores surface friction to concrete bridge decks.}

^{Furthermore, microsurfacing is a cost-effective and environment-friendly preservation technique that reduces user delay by allowing traffic in an hour or less after its application. Microsurfacing is vulnerable under the excessive axle loading and is deteriorated over time. However, latex and filler can improve its resistance against the distresses caused by the traffic flow.}

^{In this regard, Raika Rah Gostar Refining and Distribution Company is able to produce bitumen emulsion for microsurfacing using emulsifiers for microsurfacing (AkzoNobel and Cecca).}

^{In this company, we were able to supply bitumen emulsion for microsurfacing in the road construction projects in different regions of the country and neighboring countries, relying on the expertise and experience of several years in this field.}

^{It should be noted that the experienced laboratory staff of Raika Refining and Distribution Company has the ability to perform all the tests required to check the quality and performance of bitumen emulsion for microsurfacing.}

 

Table 1: Standard requirements for aggregate tests of bitumen emulsion for microsurfacing

Range		Standard	Test
Max.	Min.
30	–	ASTM D131	Los Angeles Abrasion Value (%)
15	–	ASTM D88	Soundness Loss by Sodium Sulfate, (%)
–	65	ASTM D2419	Sand Equivalent, (%)

 

 

Table 2: Standard requirements for tests of bitumen emulsion for microsurfacing

Range		Standard	Test
Max.	Min.
Tests on Bitumen Emulsion
100	20	ASTM D7496	Viscosity, Saybolt-Furol @ 25°C
1	–	ASTM D6930	Storage Stability, 24 h (%)
0.1	–	ASTM D6933	Sieve (%)
Positive		ASTM D7402	Particle Charge
–	62	INSO 13581	Residue by Distillation (%)
Tests on Residue
90	40	INSO 2950	Penetration @ 25°C, 5 sec (1/10 mm)
–	57	ASTM D36	Softening Point (°C)
–	40	INSO 3866	Ductility @ 25 °C (cm)
–	97	ASTM D7553	Solubility in Trichloroethylene (%)
–	50	AASHTO T301	Elastic Recovery (%)

 

 

Table 3: Standard requirements for mix design of microsurfacing mixture

Range		Standard	Test
Max.	Min.
3	2	ISSA TB106	Consistency )cm)
–	120	ISSA TB113	Mixing time, (s)
–	30	ASTM D3910	Set time, (min)
–	90	ISSA TB114	Wet stripping (%)
–	12	ISSA TB139 ASTM D3910	30 min (set)	Cohesion (Kg-m)
–	20		60 min
538	–	ISSA A105	1-hour	Wet track abrasion loss, (g/m2)
807	–		6 days
538	–	ISSA TB109	Sand adhesion by loaded wheel tester (LWT) (g/m2)