Trouble Shooting
Emulsion problems:
Manufacturing:
Problem: Solution
to Try
Emulsion Viscosity Increase binder content
too low. Increase bitumen temperature (
check it is correct)
Use Cutback
binder ( 3% kerosene)
Add kerosene
or diesel to soap at 1-4% (keep agitated)
Increase
emulsifier concentration
Change emulsifier
( talk to VSS).
Use a thickener
in soap or final emulsion
Add 10% crude to
base bitu8men
Split emulsifier
between bitumen and soap ( see VSS for details.
Add salt mixed
with diesel fuel (40%) at 3% into bitumen.
Check pH.
Viscosity Too High Reduce binder to specification minimum.
Change
emulsifier
Reduce emulsifier concentration.
Check pH
Add 0.1 %
calcium chloride to soap ( based on total emulsion)
Add 0.1%
common salt to emulsifier.
Check exit
temperature
Sieve Residue too
high Increase emulsifier
Split emulsifier
between bitumen and soap ( see VSS for details.
Check pH
check
temperatures of soap and bitumen. Not too low
check exit
temperature
Use Cutback
binder ( 3% kerosene)
Add kerosene
or diesel to soap at 1-4% (keep agitated)
Use co-emulsifiers eg quats.
Check mill
Settlement too high Increase emulsion viscosity
Use Cutback
binder ( 3% kerosene)
Add kerosene
or diesel to soap at 1-4% (keep agitated)
add 0.1% calcium
chloride
Split
emulsifier
Use
some quat
Check pH
emulsification temps check mill
Fails Storage stability: increase emulsifier
check pH
check pH
emulsification temps.
Fails Low temp stability: check pH and temps
add
kerosene
Split emulsifier
Add
kerosene or diesel to soap solution 1-3%
Setting rate too low: reduce emulsifier
decrease
pH
Add
oleic acid or napthenic acid at 0.2% to bitumen
Split
emulsifier
Change
emulsifier
Add kerosene
to binder 1-3%
Set rate too fast: Increase pH
increase
emulsifier
Adhesion unsatisfactory/poor coating
Increase emulsifier
check pH
add kerosene to binder or soap.
Change emulsifier
Add fatty amine or antistrip to bitumen.