The role of aggregate surface chemistry in bitumen emulsion- aggregate interactions

摘要

Road-making bitumen products are typically applied in conjunction with a mineral aggregate. The bitumen acts as a binder and the aggregate provides mechanical strength. One way of applying the bitumen phase is as a bitumen-water emulsion that must break in a controlled manner upon laying. The efficiency with which the bitumen emulsion breaks is strongly influenced by the surface characteristics of the aggregate substrate. The current study employs colloid and surface chemistry techniques to investigate the properties of the mineral aggregates commonly used in road- making processes for example slurry surfacing and sprayed sealing.