Bitumen emulsions are nothing but diluted bitumen for effective and fast penetration. It is widely used in various industrial and commercial applications. Surface treatment is done with an objective of keeping the outer most layer of the road or building secure from the intrusion of water or moisture. It makes the roads skid resistant and safe. Aggregate conditions, quality of emulsion and weather affect the efficiency though. Top three bitumen emulsion applications • Erosion control: Bitumen is an important component that can control erosion caused by drainage of liquids. Structures near large water bodies face a problem of erosion due to high humidity levels. Seashores, lakeshores and banks of rivers or canals are a few examples. Bitumen can be used for waterproofing banks, protecting slopes and keeping the banks secure from scouring. It is possible to achieve excellent protection at a relatively low cost if it is used properly. It is easy to install and offers excellent protection against internal and external erosion of soil, structures and surroundings. • Tack coating: It is a light application of bitumen emulsion that is known as bond coat also. When hot mix layers of asphalts are added with a light application in between, a strong bond gets created. Heavy application is ideal for surfaces that are porous or patchy because it seals the gaps. Tack coating has an important role in constructing roads because it keeps the layers of asphalt bonded with each other firmly. Without it, the structural integrity of the road is compromised. The type of emulsion depends on the construction standards followed by engineers. The slow-setting emulsion is popular in the US. European countries prefer emulsion that gets settled quickly. • Prime coating: It is useful for keeping the dust levels low. Since prime coating keeps the granular integrity intact, it is the first choice for civil engineers and contractors. When a thin layer of hot mix covers the base, there is an excellent bond achieved between the inner layers and the seal. Since bitumen emulsion is more environment-friendly as compared to others, it is widely used for construction work. Slow-setting grades are quite popular for prime coating applications. Since bitumen emulsions are less viscous and work greatly in the normal temperature, it is a good component for constructing road surfaces and pavements. Due to excellent waterproofing capacity, it keeps the structures and roads secure from moisture intrusion and related problems. Bitumen emulsion applications are low-cost but highly-effective ones. There are numerous bitumen emulsion suppliers in India, who are standing as backbone of Indian road construction.
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