Which Bitumen Emulsion Is Used in Road Work?

Introduction

Which Bitumen Emulsion Is Used in Road Work?

As a practicing pavement engineer I see the same question on sites across India: which bitumen emulsion should we use for this work? The right emulsion is not a marketing choice. It is a function of climate, traffic, substrate condition, and the construction method. At Premium Petro we manufacture binders and emulsions used on highways, urban roads, and rural work. This article explains, from first principles and field experience, which emulsions serve which jobs, how VG 10 bitumen and VG 30 bitumen relate to emulsion selection, and what procurement teams must watch for in bitumen price per ton in india in 2025.

What emulsion is used where?

1. For surface-dressing, tack coats, and prime coats

• Rapid-setting cationic emulsions such as RS (rapid-setting) and SS (slow-setting) grades are common because they break quickly on aggregates and prevent flushing.

2. For cold-mix and slurry seals

• Medium-setting cationic emulsions or polymer-modified emulsions are preferred for cohesion and workability.

3. For tack coats under hot mix asphalt

• A low-viscosity cationic cutback or a specially formulated cationic tack emulsion is used to ensure bond without slippage.

How viscosity grades relate to emulsions

What VG means and why it matters

Viscosity grade bitumen (VG) is classified by measured viscosity at 60°C. VG 10 bitumen is softer and used where spraying and cold-weather work require fluid binders. VG 30 bitumen is stiffer, preferred in hotter climates and heavy-traffic sections where higher rutting resistance is needed. These are the common refinery-supplied base bitumens used to make emulsions or to produce hot binders for HMA.

Practical implication for emulsions

When an emulsion is manufactured, the choice of base bitumen (VG 10, VG 30, or a blend) sets baseline performance. For example:

• Emulsion for surface dressing in hilly, cold areas often uses a VG 10 base to improve sprayability and coating.

• Emulsion for sealing or tack in plains and highways commonly uses a VG 30 base for better high temperature stability after breaking.

Common types of bitumen emulsions and where to use them

A. Cationic rapid setting (RS)

• Surface dressing, chip seal work on wet or marginal aggregates.

B. Cationic medium setting (MS) and slow setting (SS)

• Slurry seal, cold mix, and mix-in-place stabilization.

C. Polymer modified emulsions (PME)

• High stress areas, bus bays, intersections requiring improved elasticity.

D. Tack coat emulsion

• Designed for bonding hot mix layers; must achieve good penetration and bond strength quickly.

Case style examples from the field

Mountain state surface dressing

Project: Two-lane rural road, Himachal Pradesh.

Problem: cold ambient temperature, light traffic.

Solution: RS cationic emulsion made from a VG 10 bitumen base for reliable spray-coat and rapid breaking on wet dolomite aggregates.

Result: uniform coating and fewer rejected runs during pre-monsoon work.

Urban arterial overlay

Project: City arterial with bus stops and heavy turning movements.

Problem: early rutting on previous runs.

Solution: polymer-modified medium-setting emulsion with a VG 30 base used for tack and a polymer-modified HMA layer.

Result: improved shear resistance and longer opening-to-traffic life.

Procurement & QC checklist

Before you accept or order an emulsion, confirm:

1. Manufacturer’s plant test certificate and batch test reports.

2. Emulsion type: cationic or anionic, RS/MS/SS, polymer modification.

3. Base bitumen VG grade declared: VG 10 bitumen or VG 30 bitumen as applicable.

4. Break test and residue penetration/softening point.

5. Compliance to IS/MoRTH/NHAI clauses and supplied test certificates.

6. On-site trial patch for tack and break under project ambient conditions.

Real 2025 updates you should know

• MoRTH guidance continues to require binder selection based on climatic zone and application method, and it lists procedures for emulsion use in road works. Project engineers must follow the specified clauses for surface dressing and tack applications.

• IS 73:2013 and related updates remain the reference for VG bitumen grading. Viscosity grades VG 10, VG 30 and VG 40 bitumen are specified with limits for absolute and kinematic viscosity, which directly influence emulsion manufacture and performance.

• Refinery price notices and depot rates in 2025: Indian refiners issued price revisions effective May and June 2025 for bulk VG grades. These depot-level revisions set the practical market baseline for bitumen price per ton in india, and procurement teams should reference the latest IOCL/BPCL/HPCL depot circulars for accurate ex-depot pricing. Example: IOCL and other refineries published bulk price lists W.E.F. May and June 2025.

• Market consumption trends: PPAC data in 2025 showed higher bitumen consumption compared with 2024, underlining strong construction activity nationwide. Increased demand affects short-term pricing and logistics. Plan orders and transport accordingly.

Bitumen price per ton in india

Refinery price circulars in 2025 put VG 10 and VG 30 in a similar price band with small depot-to-depot variation. Example ex-depot ranges seen in Q2 2025 were roughly mid 40,000s to mid 50,000s INR per metric ton depending on depot and grade. Actual landed cost will add freight, handling, GST, and statutory levies.

Procurement tip: compare ex-depot price lists from IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL and add a realistic transport uplift per km. For long-haul deliveries, consider buying emulsions locally where possible to reduce high-temperature handling costs.

Short on-site checks for the engineer before acceptance

1. Verify emulsion viscosity and water content at delivery.

2. Run a quick break test on site sample with your local aggregate.

3. Check residue penetration and softening point against project spec.

4. Confirm manufacturer’s batch traceability and retest random batches.

These checks save time and money: poorly breaking emulsion leads to poor coating, rejected runs, and rework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which emulsion is best for monsoon season repairs?

A: Use rapid-setting cationic emulsions for patching during the monsoon when aggregates may be damp. Follow MoRTH guidance on wet-season repairs.

Q: Should I insist on a VG grade when ordering emulsion?

A: Yes. Ask the Premium Petro manufacturer to declare the base bitumen as VG 10 bitumen or VG 30 bitumen. The VG grade affects residue stiffness after break and helps you match the binder to climate and traffic.

Q: How does VG 10 compare with VG 30 for asphalt overlays?

A: VG 30 bitumen gives higher high-temperature stability for overlays in hot climates. VG 10 bitumen improves sprayability and low-temperature flexibility. Choose based on ambient temperatures and axle loads.

Q: Where can I check the latest bitumen price per ton in india?

A: Check refinery depot circulars from IOCL, BPCL, and HPCL for ex-depot prices and consult PPAC reports for market trends. Example circulars from May and June 2025 record the published depot rates.

Q: Which is the bitumen emulsion manufacturers in India?

A: Premium Petro is a reputed trustworthy manufacturer & supplier in India they provide best grade bitumen, CRMB, PMB, etc.

Conclusion

Choosing the right bitumen emulsion is a technical decision that blends binder chemistry, VG base selection, site conditions, and supplier quality. Use VG 10 bitumen based emulsions where spray ability and low-temperature handling matter. Use VG 30 bitumen baselines for hotter, high-traffic sections. Always require batch certificates, run on-site break/residue checks, and plan procurement with current depot circulars in hand.