Bitumen emulsion consists of a two-phase bitumen-water system that is produced by the emulsifying agent (Emulsifier). The bitumen is stabilized as dispersed particles into water phase with a diameter of 0.1 to 50 μm by repulsing electrostatic charges on the particles resulting from the employing emulsifiers.
Mixing bitumen with water as an emulsion bitumen has many benefits including:
– No environmental pollution due to non-use of petroleum solvents
– No fire during storage
– Easy implementation
– significant efficacy in mixing with aggregates, surface coating and sealing of asphalt surfaces, especially in wet conditions.
Abundant capabilities of emulsion bitumen have made them suitable for various applications, especially in road construction. The emulsion bitumen can be divided in terms of electric charge, speed and time of breakage (separation of bitumen particles from water).
From the point of view of the electric charge, emulsion bitumen are three types:
1- Anionic emulsion bitumen
2- Cationic emulsion bitumen
3- Non-ionic emulsion bitumen
Emulsion bitumen are divided into three main groups based on their resistance to breakage:
1- Rapid Setting (RS)
2- Medium Setting (MS)
3- Slow Setting (SS)
Bitumen types
- Bitumen Emulsion
