Slurry seal or asphalt emulsion, is a pavement conservation treatment. When properly applied, it is a cost-efficient, effective, efficient and environmentally-friendly solution to many non-structural problems in roads and highways with asphalt surfaces.
Manufactured at ambient temperature, slurry is a mixture of slow-setting emulsified asphalt, selected aggregates, water and, later, mineral filler and additives. It is manufactured and applied with a liquid consistency by a self-propelled machine that simultaneously mixes and spreads the mixture.
It is used in very thin surface treatments (usually no thicker than 1 cm) improving the impermeability of existing pavement, as well as other surface characteristics (texture and skid resistance). It is a protective layer for the surface layer, which is then covered with a new and effective wearing course.
The application of slurry seal provides a quality solution for three issues:
- It improves the surface texture and roughness, increasing the adherence of tires to the road.
- It improves the impermeability of the pavement, prolonging its service life.
- It rehabilitates pavement that shows signs of degradation and loss of surface material, sealing them and stopping continued degradation.
In cases where the pavement has no significant structural problems or deformations, slurry seal is an efficient and cost-efficient solution for conservation, to fix problems and prevent future issues. Slurry seal can also be highly effective when combined with other low-cost techniques such as penetrating crack sealing or spot patching.
The success and effectiveness of slurry seal largely depends on it being used in the correct areas.
Slurry seal technical data sheet