Manufacture of Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1 from UAE and Turkey

Key Properties of Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

ASTM D977 Full Specification — Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

FOB Price — Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

Applications of Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1 is the most versatile grade in the slow-setting anionic family. Its extended breaking time — driven by water evaporation rather than chemical reaction — makes it ideal for applications requiring controlled working time. According to FHWA Emulsion Guidelines, slow-setting emulsions are the preferred choice for slurry seals, fog seals, and fine aggregate mixing because lower reactivity ensures uniform coating before setting occurs.

Tack Coat (0.2–0.4 L/m²): SS-1 is sprayed onto the surface of existing asphalt or concrete before laying a new overlay. Its slow breaking allows even distribution across the full surface before bonding begins, preventing delamination between pavement layers.

Fog Seal (0.3–0.7 L/m²): Applied as a light spray to aged or oxidised asphalt surfaces to restore flexibility, reduce ravelling, and extend pavement life. No aggregate is applied after a fog seal — the emulsion breaks and leaves a thin protective bitumen film.

Slurry Seal: SS-1 is mixed with fine aggregate, mineral filler, water, and additives to produce a slurry mix that is spread over the pavement surface. The slow-setting nature allows the mix to be workable long enough for uniform spreading before breaking.

Prime Coat (0.5–1.0 L/m²): On environmentally sensitive sites or where open flame is restricted, SS-1 serves as a safer alternative to cutback bitumen for priming granular base courses before asphalt overlay.

Dust Control (0.5–1.5 L/m², diluted 1:1 with water): Applied to unpaved roads to bind loose surface particles, reducing dust emissions and stabilising the running surface.

Cold Mix and Microsurfacing: SS-1 is used as the binder in dense-graded cold mixes and microsurfacing systems for urban road rehabilitation and pothole repair.

SS-1 vs SS-1h — Which Grade Should You Choose?

Both grades are slow-setting anionic emulsions meeting ASTM D977, but they differ in one critical way: the hardness of the residual bitumen after the water evaporates.

SS-1 uses a softer base bitumen (penetration 100–200 dmm), making it more flexible and suitable for cooler climates and fog seal applications where binder flexibility is important. SS-1h uses a harder bitumen residue (penetration 40–90 dmm), providing better rutting resistance in hot climates such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. For most tack coat applications in warm export markets, SS-1h is the more common specification — but both grades are equally available from our Turkey and UAE facilities.

SS-1 vs CSS-1 — Anionic vs Cationic

The choice between SS-1 (anionic) and CSS-1 (cationic) depends on the aggregate type available in your project location. Anionic emulsions carry a negative charge and bond best with basic or calcareous aggregates such as limestone and dolomite — which are common across East Africa and the Middle East. SS-1 also has a unique advantage: it reacts chemically with Portland cement to form a water-insoluble salt, making it valuable in stabilisation and soil treatment applications.

Cationic emulsions like CSS-1 carry a positive charge and bond more effectively with acidic or siliceous aggregates such as granite, quartzite, and basalt, which are common in West Africa and South Asia. CSS-1 also performs better on wet surfaces and in cold or humid weather because its breaking mechanism relies on chemical reaction rather than evaporation alone. The cost of SS-1 is generally lower than CSS-1 due to simpler emulsifier chemistry.

Environmental and Safety Advantages over Cutback Bitumen

One of the most important commercial advantages of SS-1 is its environmental and safety profile compared to cutback bitumen grades such as MC-30 or RC-70. SS-1 contains no kerosene, naphtha, or any flammable petroleum solvent. This means no open flame is needed on site, VOC emissions during application are negligible, and fire risk is dramatically reduced. Many road authorities in Africa and the Middle East now mandate emulsion-based products over cutback bitumen for urban and peri-urban road maintenance precisely for these reasons.

SS-1 can also be applied on slightly damp surfaces without the adhesion loss that cutback bitumen would suffer, giving contractors more flexibility in scheduling around weather conditions. Energy costs are lower because no heating equipment is required.

How to Apply Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

SS-1 is applied cold using a calibrated bitumen distributor for large areas, or a pressure sprayer and brush for small areas. The key steps are as follows:

1. Clean the surface — sweep away dust, loose material, and debris. Remove any standing water or oil contamination.
2. Check temperature — air and pavement temperature should be above 10°C. Avoid application in rain or when rain is forecast within 2 hours.
3. Dilute if required — for fog seal or dust control, dilute 1:1 with clean water. For tack coat, use undiluted.
4. Apply at the correct rate — calibrate the distributor nozzles before starting. For tack coat, apply at 0.2–0.4 L/m² in an even, unbroken film.
5. Allow the emulsion to break — the emulsion changes colour from brown to black as water evaporates. This takes 30–120 minutes depending on temperature, humidity, and wind speed.
6. Apply the overlay or aggregate — only after the emulsion has fully broken and is uniformly black. Trafficking before this point will damage the tack coat film.

Anionic Emulsion Grade Comparison

Packaging & Shipping

Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1 is exported in new steel drums (200 litres, sealed on pallets), IBC tanks (1,000 litres), or flexi tanks (16,000–20,000 litres in a 20ft container). Flexi tank is the most cost-effective option for large volume orders. Bulk tanker supply is available for local delivery from our Iskenderun and Jebel Ali facilities.

Store above 5°C and protect from freezing. Do not heat above 60°C. Shelf life is 3–6 months from production date in sealed containers away from direct sunlight.

Export Destinations

Zumrut International Kimya exports Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1 to road authorities, contractors, and traders across East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Uganda, Mozambique), West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal, Ivory Coast), the Middle East (Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Oman, Kuwait), and South Asia (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan). Shipments depart from Iskenderun Port (Turkey) and Jebel Ali Port (UAE) with typical lead times of 14–30 days.

Frequently Asked Questions — Anionic Bitumen Emulsion SS-1

What does SS-1 mean in bitumen emulsion?

SS-1 stands for Slow Setting, Grade 1 Anionic Bitumen Emulsion. “Slow Setting” refers to the rate at which the emulsion breaks — how quickly the bitumen separates from water and bonds to the surface. SS-1 has the lowest setting rate among anionic grades, giving extended working time for mixing and spray applications. The “1” distinguishes it from SS-1h, which uses a harder base bitumen residue (penetration 40–90 dmm vs 100–200 dmm for SS-1).

What is the difference between SS-1 and SS-1h bitumen emulsion?

Both grades meet ASTM D977 with identical viscosity and residue requirements. The only difference is the hardness of the bitumen residue after distillation: SS-1h uses harder base bitumen (penetration 40–90 dmm) for better rutting resistance in hot climates, while SS-1 (penetration 100–200 dmm) is more flexible and better suited to cooler climates and fog seal applications.

Can anionic SS-1 emulsion be used as a tack coat?

Yes — SS-1 is one of the most widely used emulsions for tack coat at application rates of 0.2–0.4 L/m². Its slow-setting nature allows even spray distribution across the full surface before breaking begins, ensuring uniform adhesion between the existing pavement and the new asphalt overlay.

What aggregates are compatible with anionic emulsion SS-1?

SS-1 works best with basic or calcareous aggregates such as limestone and dolomite, which carry a positive surface charge that attracts the negatively charged bitumen particles. SS-1 also reacts chemically with Portland cement to form a water-insoluble salt — a useful property for stabilisation applications. For acidic or siliceous aggregates (granite, quartzite, basalt), CSS-1 generally performs better.

Does SS-1 bitumen emulsion require heating?

No — SS-1 is applied cold at ambient temperature. No heating equipment or open flame is needed on site. In temperatures below 10°C, gentle warming to 40–50°C improves flow for spray applications, but temperatures above 70°C must be avoided as they destabilise the emulsion. This cold-application characteristic makes SS-1 significantly safer and cheaper to use than cutback bitumen grades.

What is the shelf life of SS-1 bitumen emulsion?

When stored in sealed containers at 5–60°C, away from direct sunlight and freezing, SS-1 remains stable for 3–6 months from the production date. ASTM D977 requires a maximum settlement of 1% after 24 hours, confirming excellent storage stability. Containers must never be stored in freezing conditions as ice crystal formation permanently breaks the emulsion structure.

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