Emulsion bitumen
Water bitumen (emulsion bitumen) is obtained by mixing bitumen and water with an emulsifier. The amount of emulsifier is very small and is about 0.3 to 0.5% by weight of bitumen.
The amount of water used in this type of bitumen is about 30 to 50% by weight of bitumen. The emulsifier is usually an alkaline salt of organic acids or ammonium salts that cause bitumen particles to become charged.
In this way, the bitumen particles repel each other due to the induced load and float in water in the form of spheres with a diameter of one hundredth to one thousandth of a millimeter.
The use of this type of bitumen reduces environmental pollution and because no oil or flammable solvents are used, the risk of ignition during bitumen transportation is reduced.
Emulsion bitumen can be used instead of MC bitumen after the completion of road infrastructure and before the start of asphalt spreading, and also used to produce concrete asphalt or insulation.
Another use of this product in agricultural lands is to prevent water evaporation and reduce soil moisture.