Why Foam Bitumen is a Better Asphalt Road Stabiliser than Bituminous Emulsion

Why Foam Bitumen is a Better Asphalt Road Stabiliser than Bituminous Emulsion

10 March 2020
 Categories: , Blog


Tarmac roads used predominantly by heavy trucks take quite a beating. As such, it is critical for paving contractors to construct asphalt roads that can withstand the elements. However, standard asphalt roads deteriorate over time because of continued use. If repairs are not made in time, the road will become unusable. Moreover, continued repairs can reach a point where they don't make financial sense for both the paving contractor and the client. Luckily, foam bitumen offers a new option for pavers in their quest for lasting road stabilisation. This write-up highlights the key benefits of foam bitumen as the go-to material for asphalt road stabilisation. 

Saves Water

Bituminous emulsion is the most common asphalt road stabilisation material available to paving contractors. Unfortunately, contractors have to use copious amounts of water to get the right bitumen emulsion. With water becoming a scarce resource, paving contractors have to be very careful not to misuse it. This is why foam bitumen proves a better road stabilisation option than bituminous emulsion; it does not require additional water. Therefore, paving contractors can save water, thereby making the stabilisation process less expensive for the client. 

Rapid Strength Gain

Damage to the main road leading to a commercial facility can significantly affect business operations such as deliveries. Not only does the client have to open a temporary road, but traffic also has to be diverted to create room for repairs to the damaged road. Bituminous emulsion requires that the new road be left to cure and gain strength before it can be used. The longer the main road remains unused, the more it becomes costly to run facility operations. Foam bitumen eliminates this delay because the stabilised road can be used as soon as paving contractors are done with the compaction stage. This means that your clients' operations will not be affected significantly because they don't have to wait long to use the facility's main road. 

Water Resistance

Any water that settles longer than is necessary on asphalt roads will penetrate the inside and lead to extensive damage. If you repair the same road with the same bituminous emulsion, it will not be long before it begins to crack and require repairs. This is especially the case with roads located in wet regions. The water resistance properties of foam bitumen make it the best asphalt road stabilisation material regardless of how long water settles on the surface. If you have clients in regions that receive rainfall on most days of the year, then foam bitumen should be the preferred choice of road stabiliser.