What is Bitumen Emulsion?

For the development of each nation, road network plays a very important role. Developed nation pays the cost of the effect of environmental conditions which is very harmful for human aspects. That’s why, there is great need for sustainable development for the preservation of environmental conditions. Many countries, including India, introduced Bitumen is used as a binder constituent in road construction. For reducing pollution and the heating effect, cold mix technology (type of bitumen) is used.

In cold mix technology, bitumen are used to aggregate in the road making process is in the form of a so-called “bitumen emulsion”. It is an emulsion liquid product of water and bitumen in which bitumen fine droplets are suspended in aqueous solution. Bitumen is a by-product of petroleum and it does not mix with water, so we are adding an emulsifier with water after that bitumen is added.

The emulsifier is breaking down the bitumen into minute particles and keeps its suspension. Bitumen emulsion liquid consisting 3 things, i.e, water, emulsion and bitumen.

How is it manufactured?

1. Emulsifier and other chemically active agents (like, HCl, CaCl2, etc.) are mixed with water in appropriate proportions depending upon the recipe. This is called soap solution 50 degree Celsius .It will be depends upon the ionic nature of the mix. In India, mostly, cationic type emulsions are used.
2. Now, the addition of bitumen 150 degrees with soap solution. the bitumen into minute particles and keeps its suspension. Bitumen emulsion liquid consisting 3 things, i.e, water, emulsion and bitumen.
3. It is done in a high shear mixer or homogenizer. It will be depends upon the use of bitumen emulsion, how much amount of bitumen is to be added to water. The average range of the ratio is from 40% to 70%. If work is so important then range must be high from 60% to 70%.

By the colloidal mill, bitumen breaks down into very tiny droplet upto 0.5 microns. Then, an emulsifier is added to create a coating of surface around of each and every droplet of the bitumen and it is also helping to keep the droplet is in dispersed and suspended form. Mix product is collected from the colloidal mill and stored in a storage tank for required used.