SAMIfloat has once again proved to be a sustainable alternative to conventional mix additives.

SAMI Bitumen Technologies’ SAMIfloat polymer modified emulsion has once again surpassed expectations, this time assisting in road rehabilitation works in a popular coastal municipality. Representatives from SAMI, Colas and Central Coast Council explain.

Central Coast Council in New South Wales is home to some of the state’s most iconic beachfronts and scenery, making it a highly frequented area by locals and tourists alike.
With many essential links and arterial roads – all exposed to coastal weather fronts – Central Coast Council is required to regularly maintain connections while reducing disruptions to traffic.

Just one of the challenges has been road surface flushing and bleeding on a number of roads located within the municipality. As such, Central Coast Council has been on the lookout for innovative solutions to support the delivery of taxpayer-led transport services.

A chance encounter at an industry event gave the council its first exposure to SAMI Bitumen Technologies products, with one product in particular standing out.
SAMIfloat, a polymer modified cationic high float emulsion, designed to have a viscous structure (thixotropic) that prevents the flow of residual binder.

With a higher softening point and elastic recovery, SAMIfloat can withstand higher traffic loads and harsher weather conditions. Due to the gelly nature of the residue, SAMIfloat’s structure prevents bleeding or flushing at high temperatures and reduces aggregate loss at low temperatures.

Shortly after the industry event, SAMI began discussions with Matt Nazemi, Team Leader, Geotechnical and Pavements – Central Coast Council, to learn more about the municipality’s needs and challenges.

As Nazemi explains, a mixture of geographical and climate factors makes the long-term performance and application of conventional bitumen untenable.

“In the Central Coast we have many rural roads and highways that have dense tree cover and therefore shade, which makes curing more difficult, especially in the colder seasons,” he says.

“That’s why we identified SAMIfloat as a product of interest. Because its water based, we wouldn’t need to use cutters, oil or wait for its evaporation. Using environmentally friendly SAMIfloat creates a durable seal that resists bitumen excessive flow in hot days and aggregates embedment. Therefore, it reduces the risk of foamed bitumen stabilised base layers’ softening and flushing at the surface by eliminating cutter oil and reducing curing time.