Sulphur-bituminous compositions

Claim 2

In an improved stabilized binder composition for mineral aggregates in the manufacture of paving mixtures comprising an emulsion of sulphur and a bituminous material having a sulphur content of from 20 to 50%, by weight, and in which said bituminous material is a continuous phase and said sulphur is a dispersed phase, the improvement which comprises an emulsion stabilizing amount of an organosiloxane polymer not exceeding 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of said bituminous material.

Claim 3

A composition according to claim 1 in which said polymer has the general formula: ##STR2## where n ranges from 0 to 1000 and R 1 and R 2 which may be the same or different are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl and halo-alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms.

Claim 4

A stabilized binder composition for mineral aggregates in the manufacture of paving mixtures comprising an emulsion of sulphur and a bituminous material comprising 60 to 70%, by weight, of said bituminous material and 30 to 40%, by weight, of said sulphur based on the weight of said composition, and not more than 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of said bituminous material, of an emulsion stabilizing amount of an organosiloxane polymer of the general formula: ##STR3## where n ranges from 0 to 1000 and R 1 and R 2 which may be the same or different are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, and halo-alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; in which said bituminous material is a continuous phase and said sulphur is a dispersed phase.

Claim 5

A stabilized binder composition for mineral aggregates in the manufacture of paving mixtures comprising an emulsion of sulphur and a bituminous material comprising 60 to 70%, by weight, of said bituminous material and 30 to 40%, by weight, of said sulphur based on the weight of said composition, and not more than 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of said bituminous material, of an emulsion stabilizing amount of an organosiloxane polymer of the general formula: ##STR3## where n ranges from 0 to 1000 and R 1 and R 2 which may be the same or different are selected from the group consisting of alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms, phenyl, phenoxy, benzyl, and halo-alkyl of 1 to 6 carbon atoms; in which said bituminous material is a continuous phase and said sulphur is a dispersed phase.

Claim 6

A composition according to claim 3 in which said polymer has the formula ##STR4## where n ranges from 0 to 2000 and is selected such that the polymer has a viscosity of about 300 to 12,500 centistokes at 25° C.

Claim 7

A composition according to claim 4 wherein said bituminous material is asphalt and said polymer is present in a stabilizing amount of about 0.001%, by weight, based on the weight of asphalt.

Claim 8

A paving mix suitable for forming a paved surface comprising from about 85% to 95%, by weight, of mineral aggregate and from 5% to 15%, by weight, of the improved stabilized binder composition as defined in claim 1.

Claim 9

A paving mix according to claim 6 in which said binder composition comprises 60 to 70%, by weight, of said bituminous material and 30 to 40%, by weight, of said sulphur based on the weight of said composition.

Claim 10

A paving mix according to claim 7 in which said polymer has the formula ##STR5## where n ranges from 0 to 2000 and is selected such that the polymer has a viscosity of about 300 to about 12,500 centistokes at 25° C.

Claim 11

A paving mix according to claim 8 wherein said bituminous material is asphalt and said polymer is present in a stabilizing amount of about 0.001%, by weight, based on the weight of asphalt.

Claim 12

A paved surface formed from a paving mix according to claim 7.

Claim 13

In an improved method for preparing a stabilized binder composition for mineral aggregates in the manufacture of paving mixtures which comprises mixing together at an elevated temperature bituminous material and 20 to 50%, by weight, of molten sulphur based on the weight of the composition the improvement which comprises adding an emulsion stabilizing amount of a liquid organosiloxane polymer not exceeding 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of said bituminous material of, to form an emulsion having a continuous phase of bituminous material and a dispersed phase of molten sulphur.

Claim 14

In an improved method for preparing a stabilized binder composition for mineral aggregates in the manufacture of paving mixtures which comprises mixing together at an elevated temperature bituminous material and 20 to 50%, by weight, of molten sulphur based on the weight of the composition the improvement which comprises adding an emulsion stabilizing amount of a liquid organosiloxane polymer not exceeding 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of said bituminous material of, to form an emulsion having a continuous phase of bituminous material and a dispersed phase of molten sulphur.

Claim 15

A method according to claim 11, wherein said bituminous material is in an amount of 60 to 70%, by weight, and said sulphur is in an amount of 30 to 40%, by weight.

Claim 16

A method according to claim 12 in which said polymer has the formula ##STR6## where n ranges from 0 to 2000 and is selected such that the polymer has a viscosity of about 300 to about 12,500 centistokes at 25° C.

Claim 17

A method according to claim 12 wherein said mixing is at a temperature of from about 130° C. to about 150° C.

Claim 18

A method according to claim 12 including maintaining the resulting emulsion in a thermostatically controlled storage vessel at a temperature of 125° C. to 145° C. under gentle agitation.

Claim 19

A method according to claim 14 wherein the ingredients of the composition are passed through an in-line static mixer having a plurality of baffles adapted to produce flow division and radial mixing of the composition, said bituminous material and sulphur being combined at a point immediately prior to said mixer.

Claim 20

A method according to claim 16 wherein said ingredients flow through said static mixer with a fluid stream velocity in the range of 1 to 25 ft./sec.

Claim 21

In an improved method for preparing a bituminous paving mixture comprising mixing at an elevated temperature from about 85 to 95%, by weight, of a mineral aggregate, a liquid bituminous material, and liquid sulphur, in a total of 5% to 15%, by weight; said sulphur being present in an amount of 20% to 50%, based on the total weight of the bituminous material and the sulphur; the improvement which comprises adding an amount of an organosiloxane polymer not exceeding 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of bituminous material.

Claim 22

In an improved method for preparing a bituminous paving mixture comprising mixing at an elevated temperature from about 85 to 95%, by weight, of a mineral aggregate, a liquid bituminous material, and liquid sulphur, in a total of 5% to 15%, by weight; said sulphur being present in an amount of 20% to 50%, based on the total weight of the bituminous material and the sulphur; the improvement which comprises adding an amount of an organosiloxane polymer not exceeding 0.1%, by weight, based on the weight of bituminous material.

Claim 23

A method according to claim 18 wherein said mixing is in a pugmill and said bituminous material containing said polymer and said sulphur are introduced simultaneously into the pugmill containing the mineral aggregate.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 19 wherein said bituminous material and said sulphur are introduced into a static mixer having a plurality of baffles adapted to produce flow division and radial mixing, at a point immediately prior to said pugmill.

Claim 25

A method according to claim 18 wherein said bituminous material is present in an amount of 60 to 70%, and said sulphur is present in an amount of 30 to 40%, by weight, based on the total weight of the bituminous material and the sulphur.

Claim 26

A composition according to claim 1, wherein said emulsion comprises 60 to 70%, by weight, of said bituminous material and 30 to 40%, by weight, of said sulphur, based on the weight of said composition.

Claim 27

A composition according to claim 22, wherein said organosiloxane polymer is present in an emulsion stabilizing amount of about 0.001%, by weight, based on the weight of bituminous material.