Method and apparatus for laying hot blacktop paving material
A method of laying hot blacktop paving material, the method comprising a spreading step during which the material is spread onto a surface for receiving it, and immediately prior to the spreading step, a step of adding water during which water plus wetting agent is mixed with the blacktop material.
1. A method of laying hot blacktop paving material comprising bitumen-coated aggregate, the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving the bitumen-coated aggregate, the bitumen-coated aggregate having been formed by coating the aggregate with bitumen,
(b) mixing a mixture consisting essentially of water and wetting agent with the bitumen-coated aggregate to form the blacktop paving material,
(c) spreading the blacktop paving material on a surface for receiving the blacktop material immediately after the mixture of water and wetting agent is mixed with the bitumen-coated aggregate.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture of water and wetting agent has a molar concentration of wetting agent within the range of 0.1% to 1.5%.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixture of water and wetting agent is added to the bitumen-coated aggregate at a weight concentration of 1% to 5% relative to the weight of the bitumen-coated aggregate.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixing of the mixture of water and wetting agent and bitumen-coated aggregate is conducted by kneading.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bitumen in the bitumen coated aggregate is in a non-foamy fluid state during the mixing and spreading steps.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bitumen-coated aggregate is at a temperature within the range of 60° C. to 100° C. during the receiving step.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the bitumen-coated aggregate is at a temperature within the range of 100° C. to 130° C. during the receiving step.
8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the bitumen-coated aggregate is at a temperature of about 110° C. during the receiving step.