An Introduction to Slurry

An Introduction to Slurry
Seal and Microsurfacing
Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
By: Steve Olsen
By: Steve Olsen
Industry Goals
Industry Goals

Improve Agency Awareness

Improve Agency Awareness

Educate Decision Makers

Educate Decision Makers

Set Product Expectations

Set Product Expectations

Raise the Bar

Raise the Bar

of Materials & Guidelines

of Materials & Guidelines

Improve Quality of Finished Product

Improve Quality of Finished Product
Topics we will cover:
Topics we will cover:

Slurry Seal &

Slurry Seal &
Microsurfacing Systems
Microsurfacing Systems

History
History

Considerations for use
Considerations for use

Aggregate
Aggregate

Emulsion
Emulsion

Mix Design
Mix Design

Application & Equipment

Application & Equipment
Slurry Seal
Slurry Seal

What is it?
What is it?

Developed in the 1930

Developed in the 1930

s in Germany
s in Germany

A coating consisting of fine crushed aggregate,

A coating consisting of fine crushed aggregate,
emulsified asphalt and water was applied to
emulsified asphalt and water was applied to
roadways
roadways

Emulsion serves as a binder to hold the

Emulsion serves as a binder to hold the
aggregate together and to adhere to the roadway
aggregate together and to adhere to the roadway

Appeared to be an economical way to maintain

Appeared to be an economical way to maintain
asphalt roadways.
asphalt roadways.

Not Proprietary
Not Proprietary
Microsurfacing
Microsurfacing

What is it?
What is it?

Slurry Seal was expanded upon in the late 1960
Slurry Seal was expanded upon in the late 1960

s and
s and
early 1970
early 1970

s in an attempt to use slurry in thicker

s in an attempt to use slurry in thicker
applications that could be applied in narrow courses in
applications that could be applied in narrow courses in
wheel ruts to avoid not having to replace expensive
wheel ruts to avoid not having to replace expensive
traffic delineation on the autobahns.
traffic delineation on the autobahns.

High quality aggregates and advanced emulsions where
High quality aggregates and advanced emulsions where
incorporated
incorporated

A stable product when applied in multi
A stable product when applied in multi
-
-
stone thickness
stone thickness
resulted.
resulted.

Not Proprietary
Not Proprietary
Where to use Slurry Seal Treatments
Where to use Slurry Seal Treatments

On Newer Pavements
On Newer Pavements

Both low and high volume roads

Both low and high volume roads

Parking Areas
Parking Areas

Airports
Airports

Bike Paths
Bike Paths

Pavement Delineation
Pavement Delineation

Preventative Maintenance Program

Preventative Maintenance Program

With Chip Seals to make a Cape Seal

With Chip Seals to make a Cape Seal
Where to use Micro
Where to use Micro
-
-
Surfacing
Surfacing
Treatments
Treatments

Surface Treatments For High Volume Collectors And
Surface Treatments For High Volume Collectors And
Arterials As Well As Highways
Arterials As Well As Highways

Rut Filling Applications
Rut Filling Applications

Double Applications For Addressing Surface
Double Applications For Addressing Surface
Irregularities
Irregularities

Night Work
Night Work

Areas Where Fast Traffic Times Are Of Concern
Areas Where Fast Traffic Times Are Of Concern

Concrete Bridge Decks
Concrete Bridge Decks

Airports
Airports
What Makes Micro Different than
What Makes Micro Different than
Slurry?
Slurry?

Higher Polymer Content in the Emulsion
Higher Polymer Content in the Emulsion

Higher Asphalt Residual Content
Higher Asphalt Residual Content

Fast Setting Chemicals
Fast Setting Chemicals
-
-
Allows Faster Break
Allows Faster Break

Higher Quality Aggregate Required
Higher Quality Aggregate Required

Slurry Pavers with the Capability to mix the Micro
Slurry Pavers with the Capability to mix the Micro

Augured Boxes
Augured Boxes

Higher Quality Control required with the system
Higher Quality Control required with the system

This semi liquid surface profiling material that
This semi liquid surface profiling material that
transitions to a dense cold mix material is able to
transitions to a dense cold mix material is able to
support traffic as quick as one hour after placement
support traffic as quick as one hour after placement
When to use Slurry Seal and
When to use Slurry Seal and
Microsurfacing Treatments
Microsurfacing Treatments
Applications
Applications

Where and When Can We Apply Slurry Seal?

Where and When Can We Apply Slurry Seal?

Best Practice = Preventative Maintenance
Best Practice = Preventative Maintenance

Band Aids = Raveled or Distressed Asphalt
Band Aids = Raveled or Distressed Asphalt

Worst Case Scenario = Buys You Time
Worst Case Scenario = Buys You Time
Estimated Service Life of Slurry Seal
Estimated Service Life of Slurry Seal
and Microsurfacing Treatments
and Microsurfacing Treatments

PCI = 80 Good Condition 7

PCI = 80 Good Condition 7
-
-
10 years
10 years

PCI = 60 Fair Condition 5

PCI = 60 Fair Condition 5
-
-
7 Years
7 Years

PCI = 40 Poor Condition 2

PCI = 40 Poor Condition 2
-
-
5 Years
5 Years
Factors to consider
Factors to consider

Existing Pavement Condition
Existing Pavement Condition

Surface Preparation, Weeding, Crack Sealing, Patch Repairs,
Surface Preparation, Weeding, Crack Sealing, Patch Repairs,
Cleaning and Striping removal.
Cleaning and Striping removal.

Traffic Levels and Traffic Control Requirements
Traffic Levels and Traffic Control Requirements

Climate and Weather Conditions
Climate and Weather Conditions

Day or Night Application
Day or Night Application

Power Steering Scuffing
Power Steering Scuffing

Reflective Cracking
Reflective Cracking

Ravel or shedding of product
Ravel or shedding of product

Urban vs. Rural Settings
Urban vs. Rural Settings

Availability of Staging Locations
Availability of Staging Locations

Availability of Materials/Contractors
Availability of Materials/Contractors
Benefits
Benefits

Extends Service Life of Existing Pavements

Extends Service Life of Existing Pavements

Improved Ride Quality

Improved Ride Quality

Improved Skid Resistance

Improved Skid Resistance

Seal Pavement / Restore Loss Of Matrix

Seal Pavement / Restore Loss Of Matrix

Improve Appearance
Improve Appearance

Striping Delineation / Contrast

Striping Delineation / Contrast
Factors That May Affect Service Life
Factors That May Affect Service Life

Rock and Emulsion Characteristics

Rock and Emulsion Characteristics

Volume of Traffic
Volume of Traffic

Studded Tire Wear

Studded Tire Wear

Snow & Ice Removal Efforts

Snow & Ice Removal Efforts

Contractor Workmanship
Contractor Workmanship
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Aggregate continued
Aggregate continued

Application Rates
Application Rates

Expressed as Dry Pounds of Aggregate per Square
Expressed as Dry Pounds of Aggregate per Square
Yard
Yard

Typical Application Rates
Typical Application Rates

Type 1
Type 1
8
8
-
-
12 #/SY
12 #/SY

Type 2
Type 2
9
9
-
-
18 #/SY
18 #/SY

Type 3
Type 3
15
15
-
-
24 #/SY
24 #/SY

Type 3 Micro
Type 3 Micro
18
18
-
-
36 #/SY
36 #/SY
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Aggregate continued
Aggregate continued

Aggregate Qualities and Predictors of Success

Aggregate Qualities and Predictors of Success

Sand Equivalency
Sand Equivalency

Fines Durability
Fines Durability

Abrasion Resistance
Abrasion Resistance

Absorption Rates
Absorption Rates

Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity

Sodium Soundness
Sodium Soundness
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Aggregate continued
Aggregate continued

Potential Issues
Potential Issues

Consistency
Consistency

Gradations / Oversize
Gradations / Oversize

SE of Aggregate
SE of Aggregate

Contamination
Contamination
-
-
Plant / Trucker
Plant / Trucker

Stockpile Contamination
Stockpile Contamination
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Aggregate continued
Aggregate continued

Application Rates
Application Rates

Factors That Determine Application Rates
Factors That Determine Application Rates

Aggregate Gradation
Aggregate Gradation

Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity

Surface Texture
Surface Texture

Considerations for Specifying Application Rates (or
Considerations for Specifying Application Rates (or
Gradation of Aggregate)
Gradation of Aggregate)

What type of pavement are we affecting?
What type of pavement are we affecting?
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Aggregate continued
Aggregate continued

Different Sizes
Different Sizes
T
T
-
-
3 Micro @ 35 # Pounds Dry
3 Micro @ 35 # Pounds Dry
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Emulsions
Emulsions

What is an Emulsion
What is an Emulsion

Asphalt, Water and an Emulsifier
Asphalt, Water and an Emulsifier

Terminology
Terminology

Charge
Charge

Speed of Set
Speed of Set

Modifiers
Modifiers

Examples
Examples
SS, CSS, CMS, CQS, CRS SS, CSS, CMS, CQS, CRS
LM LM- -CQS or PM CQS or PM- -CRS CRS
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Emulsions continued
Emulsions continued

How Are They Manufactured

How Are They Manufactured

Base Stocks
Base Stocks

Emulsifiers
Emulsifiers

Modifiers
Modifiers

Polymers
Polymers

Latex
Latex
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Emulsions continued
Emulsions continued

Potential Issues
Potential Issues

Consistency
Consistency

Base Stock
Base Stock

Emulsion Temperatures
Emulsion Temperatures

Stability
Stability

Plant or Trucker Contamination
Plant or Trucker Contamination

Field Problems
Field Problems
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing
Systems
Systems
Mix Designs
Mix Designs

What are they?

What are they?

Formulations for a Specific Aggregate and Emulsion
Formulations for a Specific Aggregate and Emulsion

Provides a Band for:
Provides a Band for:

Grading
Grading

Optimal Asphalt Content (Residual Asphalt)
Optimal Asphalt Content (Residual Asphalt)

Testing Criteria Helps Predicts:
Testing Criteria Helps Predicts:

Workability
Workability

Successful Service Life
Successful Service Life
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment Types and Methods
Equipment Types and Methods

Mobile Mixers
Mobile Mixers
Equipment
Equipment
Equipment Types and
Equipment Types and
Methods
Methods

Continuous Mixers
Continuous Mixers

Common With
Common With
Micro
Micro

Reduces Transverse
Reduces Transverse
Joints
Joints
Equipment
Equipment
Calibrations
Calibrations

Calibrations Used to Mix Components per the

Calibrations Used to Mix Components per the
Mix Design
Mix Design

Trial Runs to Demonstrate Workability and

Trial Runs to Demonstrate Workability and
Gate Settings that Yield Oil Contents per the
Gate Settings that Yield Oil Contents per the
Mix Design
Mix Design

When Should Calibrations be Performed?

When Should Calibrations be Performed?

Annually
Annually

Using New Aggregate
Using New Aggregate
Equipment
Equipment
Spreader Boxes:
Spreader Boxes:

Conventional
Conventional

Auger Box
Auger Box

Single and Dual
Single and Dual

Rut Box
Rut Box

Drags such Burlap and Fabric Are Used to

Drags such Burlap and Fabric Are Used to
Achieve Different Surface Textures
Achieve Different Surface Textures
Equipment
Equipment
Spreader Boxes:
Spreader Boxes:
Auger Boxes
required for
Microsurfacing.
Augers push
material to outer
edges of the box
as well as keep
mix from
segregating.
Rut Fill Box
Rut Fill Box
Wyoming Hwy 80
Wyoming Hwy 80
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK

MICRO
MICRO
-
-

SURFACING
SURFACING

OWNER; FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADIMISTRATION OWNER; FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADIMISTRATION
Summary
Summary

Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing Are Tools For

Slurry Seal and Microsurfacing Are Tools For
Your
Your

Toolbox
Toolbox

For Preventative Maintenance

For Preventative Maintenance
or Asphalt Repair
or Asphalt Repair

Systems Can Be Selected To Tackle A Large

Systems Can Be Selected To Tackle A Large
Array of Conditions
Array of Conditions

Systems Can Be Used In Conjunction With

Systems Can Be Used In Conjunction With
Other Programs Such As Crack Sealing, Chip
Other Programs Such As Crack Sealing, Chip
Seals and Scrub Seals
Seals and Scrub Seals
Summary
Summary

To Receive Further Information

To Receive Further Information

Contact Other Agency Representatives Who Have
Contact Other Agency Representatives Who Have
Utilized These Systems In Their Preventative
Utilized These Systems In Their Preventative
Maintenance Programs
Maintenance Programs

Contact Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc., and or
Contact Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc., and or
Other Contractors and Suppliers
Other Contractors and Suppliers

Visit the International Slurry Surfacing Association
Visit the International Slurry Surfacing Association
Website (www.slurry.org)
Website (www.slurry.org)
Questions?
Questions?