Cationic Emulsions are made up of three major classifications of emulsion grades: rapid-setting, medium-setting, and slow-setting. The terms “rapid,” “medium,” and “slow” relate to the amount of time it takes for the emulsion to cure and the amount of mixing that can be performed before the emulsion breaks. Emulsions that allow for the longest mixing times generally take the longest to cure, while emulsions that allow for very little mixing time are those that set and cure most rapidly.

Chemical surface-active agents, serving as emulsifiers, are classified by the electrochemical charge that is attained when they dissociate in a water solution. In the case of cationic emulsions, the chemical charge is positive. The chemical type and quantity of surface-active agents used in the manufacturing process governs the properties of the emulsion and in what applications the resulting asphalt emulsion can be used.

As many people know, Asphalt Materials, Inc. is made up of a large family of companies. One of these companies, Bituminous Material and Supply, with plant locations in Tama and Des Moines, Iowa, was approached by Denco Construction regarding an interest in using scrub seal in Iowa. This is an emulsion seal that is not often seen in Iowa. A scrub seal is an application that is very similar to a chip seal treatment. The only difference is that the asphalt distributor pulls a broom sled that houses a series of brooms placed at different angles. These brooms guide or “scrub” the emulsion into cracks to help ensure the road’s surface is sealed.

Testing

The scrub seal is a process by which asphalt emulsion is applied to a pavement surface by an asphalt distributor. The emulsion is scrubbed into the cracks and voids with a broom before a layer of aggregate is applied over the asphalt. The scrub seal is then rolled with a pneumatic tire roller and is usually ready for controlled traffic in 1 hour or less. The scrub seal process is intended to rejuvenate dry, oxidized, and cracked asphalt pavements in lieu of a micro-surfacing, chip seal or asphalt overlay. This process was tested on roads that interested counties offered as a demo. Below, you’ll find images that were taken during the testing process.

Results

The evaluation of the demo roads showed success, and Bituminous is now focused on sand applications. Denco Construction purchased a sand spreader during the winter season to fulfill the county’s request.

According to Chris Aldama, Plant Manager at Bituminous, “It’s still a pretty fresh process. Denco was able to take approximately 10,000 gallons at the end of June, but needs to make adjustments on sand suppliers. Once sand quality is finalized, I’m confident in the long term success in this area and beyond.”

To learn more about the process, feel free to watch this video:

H.G. Meigs was a proud sponsor again this year at WCHA Highway Conference in Wisconsin Dells at the Chula Vista Resort on June 7 – 9, 2021.

Ken Schakelman Regional Sales Manager of H.G. Meigs notes that, ‘The Wisconsin County Highway Association is a very unique association. Unlike any other in the nation. First of all, they have been around for over 100 years and they represent the 72 county highway departments in Wisconsin in a variety of ways. The highway departments in Wisconsin act independently from the state DOT. Some may even produce asphalt, have full construction capabilities, crushing operations, you name it. It is very unique to my knowledge from other states. Also, since H.G. Meigs has been serving Wisconsin agencies and associations since 1935, we are extremely proud of our long-standing, long-term relationship with WCHA. In addition to our production capabilities, we often partner on items like education, helping with new products and new processes.’

Wisconsin’s 72 counties play a significant role in the state’s transportation system.  The Wisconsin County Highway Association (WCHA) is responsible for the construction and maintenance of the 19,700 mile County Trunk Highway System, as well as maintenance of the 11,800 mile State Trunk Highway System and Interstate System under the oversight of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Conference attendees included Highway Commissioners, Highway Committee Officials, Engineers, Associate Members, WisDOT Officials, and spouses/guests representing all areas of the state.

This event presents an excellent opportunity to promote any current or new products, equipment and services offered by various organizations. To learn more about WCHA’s representation of Wisconsin’s 72 County Highway and Public Works Departments, click here.

‘H.G. Meigs is a staunch supporter of the WCHA. Along with our booth display and our annual breakfast that feeds 300-400 people, we work with the WCHA in a variety of ways. You can see a breakfast we sponsored in early 2020 in the above photo.”

Ken Shackleman