Reasons behind Road Constructers Increasingly Choosing Bitumen Emulsions over Cutback Bitumen Revealed!

In the multifarious world of bitumen, some types of bitumen are used in hot methods of road construction and some others are used in cold methods. In cold road construction methods, the viscidness of bitumen is reduced, therefore, there is no need to heat it before using. Also, in construction of roads, bitumen having lower viscosity is greatly suggested in clod climatic regions.

When it comes to the types of bitumen, bitumen emulsion and cutback bitumen are two well-known types that are greatly suitable in cold road construction methods; nevertheless, their advantages and applications vary. This blog will shed light on different applications of bitumen emulsion and also let you know why it is wiser to use emulsified bitumen rather than cutback bitumen.

What are the uses of Bitumen Emulsion?

Bitumen emulsion is a liquid made up of 3 components: bitumen, water, and emulsion. Also called as road emulsions, the solution is mostly used in the construction, maintenance, and repair of roads, highways, and pavements. Bitumen emulsion can be applied by hand or using a spray tanker.

The world of construction came to know about bitumen emulsions in the 20th century, chiefly for spray applications in road construction; however in the present day, they are used for mixing as well as spraying in road constructions and pavement maintenance activities. Some of the application areas of bitumen emulsions are as follows:

• Mist spraying
• Patching
• Grouting
• Micro asphalt Surfacing
• Velocity Patching
• Concrete Curing
• Re-treading
• Surface dressing

What are the Advantages of Emulsified Bitumen over Cutback Bitumen?

Both emulsified bitumen as well as cutback bitumen possess a lower viscosity level than regular bitumen; nevertheless, they are not the same. For loosing viscosity, some petroleum solvents like kerosene, diesel oil, naphtha, etc. are added to bitumen to produce cutback bitumen. In emulsified bitumen, as the solvent used is water, it decreases the threats of fire and makes the ultimate mixture eco-friendly as compared to petroleum-based cutback bitumen.

Emulsified bitumen is more easy-going as compared to cutback bitumen and develops final strength in a lesser time. It gives worthy outcomes even when pebbles on the road surface are damp.

In addition, bitumen emulsion is well-suited with any water-based binders such as latex, rubber, and cement, as it does not comprise any petroleum-based solvents. As it contains water, it is highly suitable for applications in a damp or rainy climatic region also.

What are the Drawbacks of Emulsified Bitumen?

The key issue in using bitumen emulsion is unfortunately the transportation. Even though this type of bitumen does not need to be heated during the transport, it is likely to drop its viscosity after a certain time period, mainly because it contains a good quantity of water.

To safeguard the permanency of bitumen emulsion all through storage or transportation period, some manufacturers mix calcium chloride in bitumen to decrease the osmosis of water into the bitumen and increase its viscosity for the period of storage.

The Bottom Line

As per a report by Research Dive, growing demand for bitumen emulsions is boosting the need for bitumen emulsifiers, thus surging the revenue values for the global bitumen emulsifier market. Bitumen emulsions have become more and more prevalent owing to their various advantages over a regular bitumen application. The major advantage of bitumen emulsions is that they do not require heating at the same levels as pure bitumen alone – eradicating the need for a furnace. In addition, the ‘paint’ like properties of the bitumen emulsion indicates that it can be effortlessly and uniformly applied over a whole surface as compared to pure bitumen. In a nutshell, bitumen emulsions are going to be the favoured and popular choice among road constructers owing to the ease and plethora of advantages they offer.

About the Author(s)

   

Aishwarya Korgaonkar

Aishwarya Korgaonkar holds a bachelor’s degree in Information Technology from the esteemed Mumbai University. Being creative and artistic, she leaped into the field of digital marketing and content writing. Her love for words makes her write creative, and her spellbinding content adds colors to the world.