The Heart of Emulsion: Why 5-Micron Colloid Mills Determine Your Asphalt Quality

In the world of road construction, Nhũ tương bitum is a delicate chemical product. It is essentially oil (bitumen) mixed with water, held together by an emulsifier. But as every engineer knows, oil and water naturally want to separate.

To keep them mixed for weeks or months (Storage Stability), you need more than just a good chemical recipe. You need mechanical brute force. You need a High-Shear Colloid Mill.

At FEITENG, we often see contractors struggling with emulsion that settles or breaks too early. The culprit? An inefficient mill. In this guide, we dive deep into the technology inside our GRL-6 Bitumen Emulsion Plant.

1. The Physics of Particle Size: Why “5 Microns” Matters?

The stability of an emulsion is governed by Stokes’ Law. Simply put: The larger the bitumen droplet, the faster it will float or sink.

• Standard Mills (>10μm): Many cheaper plants use simple grinders that produce particles around 10-15 microns. These emulsions are unstable and must be used within 24 hours.

• Feiteng High-Shear Mills (≤5μm): Our multi-stage stator and rotor system spins at 2900 RPM, generating immense shear force. It tears the bitumen into microscopic droplets smaller than 5 microns.

The Benefit: Smaller particles are suspended easily by the emulsifier. This means you can store your emulsion in tanks for weeks without it separating.

2. Anatomy of the Feiteng Colloid Mill

A colloid mill isn’t just a blender. It is a precision instrument.

• Adjustable Gap: The distance between the stator (stationary part) and the rotor (spinning part) determines the fineness. Feiteng mills allow for 0.1mm – 1mm gap adjustment. This lets you switch between producing low-viscosity tack coats and high-viscosity modified emulsions.

• Material Science: Bitumen is abrasive, and the acidic water phase (pH 2-5) is corrosive. We use High-Strength Stainless Steel for the grinding head, specially heat-treated to resist wear. A worn-out mill cannot produce fine particles—ours is built to last.

3. Handling Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB) Emulsion

Producing SBR or SBS Modified Emulsion (used for micro-surfacing) is the ultimate test for a mill. The polymer makes the bitumen “rubbery” and hard to cut. Standard mills often clog or overheat when processing PMB. The Feiteng GRL-6 features an High-Power Motor with enhanced torque. It doesn’t just mix; it shreds the polymer chains, ensuring a homogenous blend that won’t clog your spray nozzles later.

4. Maintenance Tips for Longevity

To protect your investment, follow these golden rules:

1. Preheat is Mandatory: Never start the mill cold. Solid bitumen will destroy the motor. Ensure the mill jacket is heated by thermal oil to at least 100°C before startup.

2. Flush After Use: Always flush the mill with diesel or high-pressure air after production.

3. Check the Gap: Regularly check the stator/rotor gap to ensure consistent product quality.

Kết luận Don’t let poor equipment ruin your reputation. If you want to supply high-grade emulsion that meets AASHTO standards, start with the right mill.

Explore the GRL-6 Emulsion Plant Specs