Emulsifiers play a vital role in bitumen emulsion composition by facilitating the mixing of bitumen with water.
The emulsifier, known chemically as ethoxyl alkyl amine, belongs to the alkyl amine family and finds application in various industries. It is typically in liquid form, ranging in color from yellow to brown, and possesses a pungent odor. The emulsifier has a flash point of 200 degrees Celsius.
An emulsion is defined as a heterogeneous system where one liquid is dispersed in another liquid as fine droplets or particles, with suspended particle diameters ranging from approximately 1 to 10 micrometers. These systems exhibit limited stability, which can be improved by incorporating activators.
The dispersed liquid is termed the dispersed or internal phase, while the surrounding liquid is referred to as the external phase.
Moreover, an emulsifier is a substance that retards the rate of chemical reactions and, in turn, stabilizes the emulsion. Emulsifiers are extensively employed in both food and industrial products. They encompass a diverse group of compounds, each with its own specific purpose and utility.
By adding an emulsifier to two liquids that do not mix with each other in a normal state, the surface tension between the two substances is reduced and it prevents its biphasization, thus forming an emulsion.
The classification of emulsifiers is based on their ionic and non-ionic properties, in fact, the ionization potential of emulsifiers is based on electrochemical changes in the aqueous phase. In ionic bitumen emulsions, the hydrophilic head is non-ionic and definitive and dissolves in water without ionization.
The emulsifier used in the preparation of emulsion bitumen, which is called bitumen emulsifier, causes the surface tension between water and bitumen to decrease and causes it to form. It becomes tar.
The role of emulsifier in emulsion bitumen is as follows:
A: It reduces the surface tension between bitumen particles.
B: It stabilizes the emulsion by preventing the coagulation of bitumen droplets.
C: It specifies the performance characteristics of the emulsion for the time of breaking and creating adhesion.
Selecting an incorrect emulsifier or using an inappropriate percentage can result in the production of unstable bitumen emulsion, leading to premature failure and rendering it unusable. Bitumen emulsifiers are categorized into two main groups: cationic and anionic.
In cationic emulsifiers, bitumen particles carry a positive charge, leading to the repulsion of these positively charged particles, allowing them to remain dispersed in water. On the other hand, anionic emulsifiers involve bitumen particles with a negative charge and have a more specific use due to their longer breaking process. Emulsion breaking refers to the exchange of electric charge between emulsifier molecules and stone materials, leading to the loss of the protective effect of bitumen molecules and enabling them to coalesce and form bitumen.
Emulsifiers for early-breaking and late-breaking bitumen emulsions differ, and their usage percentages vary. CRS bitumen emulsifiers typically contain an alkyl group as the hydrophobic component, while CSS emulsifiers employ a cyclic hydrocarbon.
Emulsifiers are a crucial component in bitumen emulsion composition, serving the purpose of mixing bitumen with water. The chemical name of the emulsifier is ethoxyl alkyl amine, which finds applications in various industries and belongs to the alkyl amine family. It is typically in liquid form, with a color ranging from yellow to brown and a pungent odor. The flash point of the emulsifier is 200 degrees Celsius.
Safety warnings to ensure safe use
To ensure safe usage, the following safety warnings must be adhered to:
- Eye contact: Contact with the eyes can cause significant eye problems, including pain, redness, and excessive tearing. When using the emulsifier, ensure the use of large protective glasses. If there is a risk of splashing, employ a face shield.
- Skin contact: Skin contact with the emulsifier can lead to skin irritations, allergies, including pain, burning, redness, and blisters. It may also have a corrosive effect. Use gloves when handling the emulsifier.
- Ingestion: Swallowing or consuming the emulsifier is dangerous and can cause stomach pain. Avoid ingestion.
- Inhalation: The vapors emitted by the emulsifier can cause nasal irritation, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Be sure to use a mask when working with it.
- Environmental impact: The emulsifier is hazardous and toxic to aquatic life. Avoid spills or leakage into the environment.
- Fire: Although the emulsifier itself does not burn, it is important to refrain from smoking while using the product.
first aid
- Contact with eyes: immediately wash contaminated eyes with 5% acetic acid, if not available, rinse with warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash completely under the eyelids and see a doctor.
- Skin contact: remove contaminated clothes and shoes and wash with 3% acetic acid. If not available, wash with soap and water and see a doctor if necessary.
- Swallowing and eating: Rinse your mouth with water. Move the person to fresh air and if the person is conscious, give him some water to drink. Never try to vomit because it causes lung problems, and if vomiting happens, keep the head down so that the vomit does not enter the lungs and then get medical help.
- Breathing: take the person to the open air to inhale fresh air. If there are still vapors, use a mask. If he breathes or stops, use artificial respiration and finally see a doctor if needed.
- Medical information: check the person's vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, etc.) regularly and refer to the doctor or the nearest poison control center.
fire extinguishing
- Use appropriate fire extinguishers.
- If the tanks containing the emulsifier catch fire, there is a possibility of the tanks bursting due to the resulting pressure.
- These substances are toxic and harmful to aquatic life, so prevent them from flowing into rivers and sewers.
- In the event of a fire, leave the scene quickly.
Personal Precautions:
- Skin protection: use chemical resistant gloves, clothing and shoes.
- Eye protection: use protective glasses with a frame around the eyes made of chemicals that are impervious to gases. Face protection is essential.
- Body protection: use gloves, clothes and shoes resistant to chemicals. Safety shower and eyes are mandatory in working environments with this material.
- Respiratory protection: use a suitable mask.
Environmental precautions
- Environmental precautions: prevent the scattering and spilling of materials and its waste water with soil, road water, drains and sewage.
- Protection of the working environment: restrict the environment until the contamination is completely removed and clean up the contaminated environment only by trained personnel. These people should use all the required personal safety equipment. Ventilate the environment.
- Clean up the contaminated environment: collect spilled materials with materials that do not react with these materials. Store waste materials in appropriate containers, closed and with special labels. Wash the environment with water. Do not enter water into storage containers.
How to dispose of material and packaging waste
- Disposal of packaging materials: if possible, these materials should be buried in designated places. If the waste is small, these materials can be added to water and slowly neutralized with sodium or sodium carbonate.
Handling and storage
- Precautions for handling: Avoid the release of vapors and drops of these materials to the eyes and skin. Always be sure that the environmental ventilation of the transport area is adequate and avoid breathing its vapors, use a suitable mask. If possible, they should be transported in small packages in a well-ventilated environment and the lid should be tightly closed until it is not used.
- Storage conditions: Store in a dry, cool environment with proper ventilation and away from direct sunlight, heat and other flammable sources. Close the lid of the container tightly after each use and place it vertically to prevent leakage. All containers and packages must have labels.
- Personal hygiene: eating, drinking and smoking are prohibited in the material storage warehouse. Workers must wash their hands and face before eating and drinking and change their contaminated clothes.
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