Cold asphalt: what is it, stacking technology

Very often in the cold period of time, utilities have to make urgent patch repair of road surfaces. Paving hot asphalt requires an ideally dry surface and thorough preparation of the substrate, which is absolutely impossible to do in the autumn-winter time. It is in such situations that in most cases cold asphalt is used. What is it and how it differs from the usual way of laying roads, let's try to understand more.

What is cold asphalt?

Cold asphalt is called an innovative material for road repair, the use of which opens up new opportunities for utilities and owners of private areas. This species came to us from abroad only recently, but has already managed to prove itself well in the Russian market. Unique qualities of the coating make it possible to use it under the most extreme conditions, when laying hot asphalt is absolutely impossible. Many people are interested in the question of what cold asphalt consists of? What it is? The products are produced in the form of finished asphalt - concrete mixture with the addition of bitumen, polymers and plasticizers. In the production process, all the main constituents of the material are thoroughly mixed, fine-grained rubble and elastic additives are added. The resulting mixture is heat treated and sent to the packaging.

Cold asphalt is sold in bags weighing 50 kg, plastic buckets of 15 kg or in large packages up to a ton.

Advantages of cold asphalt

The cold method of laying the pavement has gained immense popularity due to its simplicity. With the advent of cold asphalt to repair or make a small asphalt pad can any homeowner without special skills and the use of expensive equipment.

The coating of cold asphalt differs high strength, durability and can be used immediately after the completion of repair work. During the movement of cars over the repaired area, the asphalt is compacted and acquires the necessary hardness. Composite additives included in the material improve the adhesion of the mixture to the surface, thus facilitating the laying process and guaranteeing the high quality of the work performed.

The advantage of this method over hot packing is that the work can be carried out at a temperature of minus 20 degrees. It is absolutely not necessary to prepare the surface to be repaired. All you need to do with the pit is to sweep the dust out of it.

Transportation of the material can be carried out under any weather conditions, in a vehicle of appropriate load capacity. Well-packed cold asphalt in bags can be stored almost forever. The opened mixture is suitable for use throughout the year, which is very convenient.

disadvantages

Cold asphalt is not recommended as the main road coverage, because under the influence of heavy wagons it loses its strength and spreads. Another important disadvantage is the high cost of liquid asphalt. The price of the mixture for cold masonry is several times higher than the cost of the hot method. Although, if we consider that it is intended only for minor repairs, it will not be so expensive to eliminate the pit formed with its help.

For comparison, you can give an example of the cost of both road surfaces: 1 ton of ordinary asphalt costs enterprises in 2000-2500 rubles, at a time when the price per ton of cold mix reaches 50,000 rubles. But, if you calculate the labor costs of employees and the rental cost of equipment required for hot coating, the laying of cold asphalt is even more economical.

Stacking technology

First of all, the formed pit is cleaned of dust and various debris. For the best adhesion of the base to the new material, the old coating is treated with a bituminous emulsion, on top of which cold asphalt will be laid. What it is and whether this treatment is required, it is necessary to understand before starting work.

The composition of the emulsion includes bitumen, dissolved in water with an admixture of various components. Sticky liquid creates the most dense connection of two materials. You can buy the composition in any construction shop.

If there are cracks and dents on the track, they are filled with a liquid mixture, after which they are repeatedly passed over the entire surface with a brush or a brush moistened with bitumen emulsion. Then proceed to laying the asphalt. He falls asleep in the hole or on the territory of the future path and is leveled. If there are lumps in the mixture, they must be broken down by any heavy object.

Pits are embedded in several layers, the thickness of which should not exceed 6 cm. Each layer is carefully leveled with a vibration plate or a conventional chopper.

It is very important that the surface of liquid asphalt is 1-2 centimeters above the level of the old road surface. In the process of rolling, the mixture is pounded and pushed to the required depth. When repairing roads, this technology is used. Cold asphalt allows the use of a new coating immediately after the completion of work.

Scope of application

Cold asphalt is most often used for urgent repair of road surfaces in places where traffic can not be stopped. It is advisable to use the material for repairing the foundation, hard-to-reach sections of roads, rainstorms, manholes, rest areas and other small-sized surfaces.

Owners of private homes for parking lots, floors on verandas and gazebos, as well as capital paths often use cold asphalt. Its price is certainly high, but since the purchased mixture can be used for a long time, for periodic private repairs it is an ideal option.

Conclusion

In the article, we examined when and where cold asphalt is used, what it is. Today this material is known to practically everyone who is directly or indirectly connected with the repair of roads. The technology of laying cold asphalt is more than simple, it is available to anyone who wants to lay a quality and reliable road surface in their own yard. As for the required amount of the mixture, calculations should be made based on the data provided by the manufacturer. So, for 1 m ^{2 of} coating with a layer thickness of not more than 0.5 cm, about 50 kg of liquid mixture will be required. It is recommended to cover very deep pits with fine crushed stone until the middle.

The thus obtained asphalt has sufficiently high performance characteristics. If mistakes were made during the laying of the mixture, the frozen coating will last for many years without repair.