Information On Bitumen & Bitumen Emulsion

Author: Shaheer Rahman

Also known as Tar or Asphalt, Bitumen is a black and oily material used as a building mortar, sealant and adhesive. It is a semi-solid form of petroleum. Known for 5000 years by now, it is mainly used for the construction of roads. Bitumen mixed with mineral aggregates acts as a perfect adhesion for a number of industrial applications.

General Uses Of Bitumen:

Extracted from natural deposits, Bitumen has several uses; such as:
  • It is used in the construction of roads, runways and platforms
  • It is used in electrical cables and junction boxes.
  • It is used as a sealing compound in batteries.
  • It is used to manufacture black paints and anti corrosive paints.
  • It is used for waterproofing papers.

    • Bitumen is available in a variety of grades:

  • Penetration Graded Bitumen: It is mainly used in roofing and road surfacing.
  • Hard Bitumen: It is used to manufacture bitumen paints and enamels.
  • Oxidized Bitumen: It is used in roofing materials, waterproof papers, electrical components and industrial products.

    • Bitumen Emulsion:

    Bitumen Emulsion is generally produced with the use of either continuous process or batch process. The manufacturing process involves dispersing small drops of one liquid into another liquid. The three main ingredients of Bitumen Emulsion are Bitumen, Water and an Emulsifying Agent.

    Properties Of Bitumen Emulsions:

  • Require less energy in heating
  • Highly improved adhesion
  • Excellent for first coat seals as well as damp and dry conditions
  • Reduced emission of carbon and hydrocarbon
  • Low residual spray rates
  • Safe and free of burning risk
  • Reduced explosion risk

    • Classification Of Bitumen Emulsions

    Bitumen Emulsions can be classified into:
  • Cationic Emulsions
  • Anionic Emulsions
  • Non Ionic Emulsions
  • Clay Stabilized Emulsions

    • Uses Of Bitumen Emulsions:

  • Crack Filling: Bitumen Emulsion is inexpensive but highly effective for crack filling. It is used to prevent the penetration of water in the structural layer of pavement.
  • Grouting: Due to its low viscosity, it is used in compacted dry aggregate.
  • Soil Stabilization: It acts as a binding agent and retains soil moisture, and also improves thermal insulation.
  • Slip Layer and Concrete Curing: It acts as a membrane between the layers of concrete and thus prevents water seepage into the lower layers.

    • Green Planet General Trading LLC & Thouheer Oil & Gas Product Trading Products is a Manufacturer and Supplier of PVC Resins, Slack Wax and Liquid Paraffin. It also deals in Virgin Base Oil, Bitumen, Petroleum Jelly, Residue Wax, Sulphur and Iron Ore. The company has marked its presence by delivering quality products to its clients. To know more, log on http://www.thouheeroil.com/.