Applications of

Bituminous
Emulsions in Road
Construction

CONTENTS

Definition
Why is Emulsions used?
Types of Emulsions.
Commercial types.
Properties.
Standard Tests.
Uses.
Popular Commercial Brands.
Conclusion.
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What is Bitumen Emulsion?

Bitumen Emulsion is liquid

product in which a substantial
amount of bitumen is suspended
in a finely divided condition in an
aqueous medium and stabilized
by means of one or more suitable
materials.

Why emulsions is used?

As the it can flow in atmospheric

temperature.
Can also be used in wet road condition.
No heating is required neither for
emulsion nor pre-heating of
aggregate.
Ideal for patch and repair work.
Useful for sealing cracks since they can
penetrate fine cracks.
4

Where is Bituminous
Emulsion used?

Where there is lack of heating

facilities in remote areas.
When addition of volatile
solvents when added to binders
suffered the disadvantage that
they have to be used only for dry
surfaces.

Main function of
Emulsion

Forming the protective coating

around the globules of binder
resisting the coalescence of the
globules.

Types of Emulsifiers

Anionic Emulsifiers
Cationic Emulsifiers
Non- ionic Emulsifiers
Colloidal Emulsifiers

Anionic Emulsions

Negatively charged bitumen

Are normally derived from
mineral, vegetables or wood
sources saponified with sodium
or potassium hydroxide.
Are covered under IS:3117-1965

Anionic Emulsifiers
Sodium Sterate
(Soap Solution)
CH3(CH2)16CO
O

NaNa-

Na-

Bitumen
Globule

Na-

Na-

Na-

Cationic Emulsion

Positively charged bitumen

emulsion
Are amines salts made by
reacting Hydrochloric acid or
acetic acid with an organic amine
or diamine.
Are covered under IS :8887-1978

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Cationic Emulsifiers
Br
+
Br
+

Br+

Ammonium
Bromite
Bitumen
Globule

C16H33(CH3)3
NBr

Br+
Br+
Br+

11

Commercial Types of
Emulsions
as per IS:8887

Slow-Set
Medium-Set
Rapid-Set
Related to viscosity and hardness of base

12

Slow Set Grade Emulsion

When we have a dense graded
mix in which fine aggregates are
used, the surface area is so large
that we require more time to mix
the fine aggregates with bitumen
emulsion and hence slow setting
emulsions, which gives that time
before breaking, is the right one.
13

Medium Set grade

When we are making use of open
graded mix this medium set
grade is made use of.

14

Rapid set grade

For surface dressing work when
you want immediate application
of cover chips.

15

Related to viscosity and

hardness of base

16

Properties of Emulsions

Residue on Sieving
Stability of Mixing with Coarse
Graded Aggregate
Stability to mixing with Cement
Water Cement
Sedimentation
Viscosity
17

Test for Bituminous

Emulsions

Water content test

Viscosity of emulsion
Stability on storage

18

Desirable values as per

IRC
Residue on Sieving Should be seen
that not more than
0.25% by weight of
emulsion consists
of particles
>0.15mm dia
Viscosity of
Emulsion

Available with 520deg Engler. But

max of 9deg is
recommended for
spraying.
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Desirable values as per

IRC
Coagulation on
Storage

Not more than

0.1gm of residue
per 100ml of
Emulsion after
seven days

Long period
Storage Stability

The difference in
water content after
three months of
storage should not
be more than 2%.
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Uses of Emulsions

Road construction ,maintenance and

patch repair works.
Soil stabilization of sands in desert
areas.
When the aggregates are wet.
Can be used when the weather is cold.
Eliminate the need of heat the aggregate
and binder and thus conservative energy.
Eliminates environmental pollution.

21

Amount of Bitumen
Emulsions used in some
countries

22

Popular Brands

Bituminous Emulsion with MICA T - 30A

Application:- Bitumen emulsion for protection of
Structural surfaces from atmospheric corrosion and attack
of industrial fumes.
It is recommended as a binder for acid - resistant tiles.
Also available with casein base. Can be used along with
sand & cement mortar for binding & filling cracks and
crevices.
Bituminous Emulsion with MICA T - 10 - IS 7393 / 74
Application:- A colloidal clay - type bitumen emulsion for
use in waterproofing & as an impermeable moisture
barrier for laying insulation slabs.
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Commercial Emulsion

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Conclusions
Cold mixes are equally good as hot mixes;
they have same structural strength as hot
mixes. In fact they are more stable then hot
mixes in higher defection areas because they
are more flexible than a hot mixes. Reducing
pollution, saving energy are the added
advantages with cold mixes.
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References

Seminar on Bituminous Roads: Design

and Construction Aspects, Indian Road
Congress, Aug 26-26 1994 New-Delhi .
Dr. L. R. Kadyali, Dr. N.B. Lal, Highway
Engineering, Khanna Publishers.
S.K. Khanna, Dr. C.E.G. Justo, Highway
Engineering, Nem Chand & Bros,
Roorkee.

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Thank You
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