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Settlement and Storage Stability of Emulsified Asphalt

Introduction:
This test method covers the ability of emulsified asphalt to remain as a uniform dispersion during
storage. It is applicable to emulsified asphalt composed principally of a semisolid of liquid
asphaltic base, water and emulsifying agent.
This test method is useful for determining, in a comparatively short time, the storage stability or
settlement of emulsified asphalt. It is a measure of the permanence of the dispersion as related to
time, but it is not to be construed to have significance as a measure of other stability aspects
involved in use.
This test method covers the ability of emulsified asphalt to remain as a uniform dispersion during
storage.
Objectives:
Objective of this test is to determine the ability of emulsified asphalt to remain as a uniform
dispersion during storage.
Apparatus:
The following apparatus are required (Figure 1).
1) Cylinder 500 ml glass cylinder with pressed or molded glass base and cork, rubber or
glass stopper having an outer diameter of 50 5 mm.
2) Glass pipette A 50 ml siphon glass tube pipette.
3) Balance capable of weighting 1000 g to 0.01 g.
4) Beaker two 1000 ml glass of metal beaker.
5) Stir roads glass or stainless steel with rounded ends.
6) Oven capable of maintaining a temperature of 163 30 C.

Figure 1

Procedure:
1) The emulsified asphalt was brought to room temperature, 22 0 C to 280 C and a 500 ml
representative sample was placed in the glass cylinder.
2) The cylinder was stopper and it was allowed to stand undisturbed at laboratory air
temperature 220 C to 280 C, for 24 hrs for storage stability of 5 days for settlement test.
3) After standing for this period, approximately 55 ml of emulsified asphalt was removed
from the top of the cylinder by mean of the pipette or siphon without disturbing the
remainder of the sample.
4) The 55 ml portion was thoroughly stirred.
5) 50.0 0.1 g of the sample was weighted into a weighted 1000 ml glass or metal beaker
that had been previously weighted with a glass rod.
6) After removal of the top portion, the next 390 ml (approximate) siphoned off from the
cylinder.
7) The emulsified asphalt remaining in the cylinder was thoroughly stirred. 50.0 0.1 g was
weighted into a previously weighed 1000 ml glass of metal beaker with a glass rod.
8) The temperature of the oven was adjusted to 163 3 0 C and the beaker containing the
rods and sample was placed in the oven for 2 hrs. At the end of this period, each beaker
was removed and the residue was thoroughly stirred.
9) It was replaced in the oven for 1 h, and then the beaker was removed from the oven,
allowed to cool to ambient temperature, and weighted, with the rods.
Observation:
Sample from the top
Weight of empty beaker

= 349.68 g

Weight of stored Bitumen sample

= 50 g

After 2 hrs Oven dried wt with container

= 381.28 g

After 3 hrs Oven dried wt with container

= 380.73 g

Sample from the bottom


Weight of empty beaker

= 301.38 g

Weight of stored Bitumen sample

= 50 g

After 2 hrs Oven dried wt with container

= 335.67 g

After 3 hrs Oven dried wt with container

= 334.46 g

Calculations and result:


Calculate the storage stability or settlement for the cylinder as follows;
Storage stability, % (24h) = B A
Settlement, % (5 days) = B A

Where;
A = the percentage of residue from the top of the sample
B = the percentage of residue from the bottom of the sample
Specimen Calculation:
The percentage of residue from the top of the sample (A)

= (380.73 349.68) x 100


50
= 62.1 %

The percentage of residue from the bottom of the sample (B) = (334.46 301.38) x 100
50
= 66.16 %
Settlement, % (5 days) = 66.16 62.1
= 4.06 %
Discussion:
1) Discuss the importance of storage stability test for emulsion asphalt selection.
When storing and handling emulsions, particles may stick together making flocculation
which is not desirable in subsequent handling in the construction of highways. Reasons
for floculations may be due to a low chemical load, thermal shock, or prolonged storage.
Flocculation leads to coalescence, that is particle stick together making larger particle.
Then the heavier asphalt particles settle to the bottom of the storage tank. This may be
due to the prolonged storage, lack of mixing, problem with asphalt compatibility or
wrong chemical load.
Knowing settlement and storage stability of emulsions, one can design proper storage
facility for storing emulsions for a short term or long term. Exampe: They have to use
vertical or horizontal tanks, mixers, temperature controls etc. This will ensures the quality
of emulsion to be used.
Same time, the end users may decide whether the emulsion is in good quality meeting
with highway spacifications.
2) What are the importance between 24 hrs storage stability test and 5 days settlement
test?
24 hrs storage stability is dealt with shorter storage stability of emulsified asphalt, while 5
day settlement test investigate what would happens when it is stored for long time,
possible problems which may raise due to lack of proper mixing, asphalt compatibility,
effect of wrong chemicals, etc.

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