Quick-setting emulsions EBC-1 and EBPC-1

GlobeCore manufactures high quality units for production of cationic bitumen emulsion EBC-1 and polymer-bitumen emulsion EBPC-1. The characteristics of these emulsions deserve a more detailed examination.

An essential component of water-bitumen emulsion is the emulsifier surfactant. By chemical nature, surfactants are divided into several types, depending on the charge of its particles. The most widely used surfactants in the road construction industry are anionic and cationic. Due to versatility and good adhesion, the used of EBC cationic water bitumen emulsions is preferred to in construction and repairs of modern roads.

Based on the amount of emulsifier used, cationic water bitumen emulsions may be divided into three types: EBC-1, EBC-2 and EBC-3. The amount of the surfactant influences the emulsion breakdown time in contact with the filler, that is, the time when bitumen precipitating from the emulsion reaches its initial state.

The emulsion breaks down in contact with the mineral material due to water evaporation, as well as absorption of water and emulsifier by the filler. It is possible to adjust the rate of breakdown by using various additives. E.g. magnesium and calcium salts accelerate breakdown of bitumen droplets.

EBC emulsions are divided into three groups based on setting rate:

• quick setting (EBC-1);

• medium setting (EBC-2);

• slow setting (EBC-3).

Therefore, EBC-1 water bitumen emulsion is a quick setting (5 minutes) cationic emulsion, containing mostly positively charged particles and used extensively as a binder in road construction. EBC-1 bitumen emulsion is perfect for surface treatment and road layer construction. Application of EBC-1 allows to save up to 40% of bitumen; the emulsion is highly adhesive to granite, quartz sand and other acidic minerals.

Recently, the demand for modified bitumen emulsions, which can significantly improve quality of the product, is increasing. The process of modification is the combination of bitumen emulsion with polymer additives. Modified quick setting cationic emulsions are called EBPC-1.