ROSS MIXER EMULSIFIERS PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY MODIFIED ASPHALT FOR PAVING APPLICATIONS
Modified asphalt is a blend of asphalt (bitumen) and fillers, such as calcium carbonate, and then modified by a polymer such as SBS rubber or APP. The polymer modification gives the usually brittle asphalt improved mechanical characteristics such as tensile strength, elastic modulus and freeze/thaw stability - all important factors for road paving applications. Despite the improved physical characteristics that come with the polymer modification of asphalt, many asphalt producers were reluctant to try this new technology due to the long process cycle times required to dissolve the polymers into the asphalt. These polymers are often in pellet or crumb form and require very high shear conditions to soften and dissolve them into the asphalt at temperatures from 350 to 400F. In their original process, it took this company 4 hours to complete a 2,000 gallon batch of modified asphalt. Using a Ross High Shear Rotor Stator Mixer, the batch is complete in approximately 2 hours and the polymer modified asphalt is then pumped onto the next phase of operation.