In the field of highway preventive maintenance, micro-surfacing and cationic rapid-set emulsified asphalt represent the most well-established thin-layer pavement rehabilitation technologies. As the core functional component within the emulsified asphalt system, emulsifiers directly govern emulsion storage stability, interfacial adhesion between asphalt and aggregates, mixing performance of mixtures, and the time required for pavement to open to traffic after construction. Road projects in China are challenged by diverse aggregate lithology, significant regional climate variations, and tight construction schedules. A cationic asphalt emulsifier with broad aggregate compatibility and stable controllable performance is critical for guaranteeing road maintenance quality and mitigating on-site construction risks.
Shanghai Qixuan Chemical has long specialized in new chemical materials for road engineering. QXME 87 cationic asphalt emulsifier is a mature product validated through extensive laboratory formulation testing and multiple field engineering applications. It is engineered specifically for cationic quick-set (CQS) emulsified asphalt and micro-surfacing systems, delivering reliable emulsification solutions for domestic preventive road maintenance projects.
QXME 87 is an amine-based cationic asphalt emulsifier with a minimum amine value of 370. The abundant active amine components endow the product with outstanding emulsifying capacity and charge strength, enabling efficient emulsification of base asphalt under acidic conditions. The product is a brown liquid, with a density ranging from 0.97 to 1.05 g/cm³ at 25°C. It maintains good fluidity at ambient temperature and is convenient for feeding without preheating and melting. It is compatible with batch-type and continuous emulsified asphalt production lines in China for material conveying, metering and mixing processes. Featuring stable physicochemical properties, it resists stratification and precipitation under normal storage conditions, facilitating warehouse management for manufacturers. It effectively reduces emulsion quality fluctuations caused by feeding variations and ensures consistent performance of emulsified asphalt from batch to batch.
Benefiting from its specially designed molecular structure, emulsified asphalt formulated with QXME 87 boasts multiple prominent performance advantages.
First, it achieves excellent emulsion-to-aggregate compatibility and suits aggregates of various lithologies and acid-base properties. Aggregates sourced for domestic road projects vary widely in surface chemical composition, silt content and cleanliness. Many emulsifiers tend to suffer from uncontrolled breaking rates and uneven asphalt coating when aggregate feedstock changes. The emulsification system of QXME 87 exhibits high tolerance for different aggregates. Emulsified asphalt droplets can rapidly form uniform and dense asphalt films on aggregate surfaces, improving the adhesion between asphalt and stone. It greatly lowers construction failures induced by aggregate raw material fluctuations and reduces the probability of project rework.
Second, the mixture delivers favorable mixing performance and satisfactory workability of slurry. During the mixing of micro-surfacing slurry mixtures, the breaking rate of the system can be well controlled. The slurry mixture maintains a proper working window to guarantee smooth paving operations, avoiding premature agglomeration and caking, and ensuring pavement flatness after placement.
Third, it satisfies engineering requirements for rapid traffic opening. Micro-surfacing and rapid-set emulsified asphalt applications generally require the roadway to reopen to traffic shortly after construction, shortening traffic control periods and mitigating the impact of roadworks on regional traffic and daily life of residents along the route. Emulsified asphalt prepared with QXME 87 breaks and cures at a designed pace after paving. The formed pavement gains early strength quickly and meets the mandatory specifications for fast traffic reopening.
Fourth, the finished emulsified asphalt exhibits excellent storage stability. The produced emulsion resists stratification and segregation within the specified storage period, extending the storage and transportation window for finished emulsions. It also reduces material waste and engineering hazards arising from premature emulsion failure.
Based on long-term formulation trials and reviews of field projects, two mature reference formulations for QXME 87 are summarized below. The pH of both systems is adjusted to 1.5–2.5 with hydrochloric acid, for reference in laboratory sample preparation and industrial production.
**Cationic Quick-Set (CQS) Emulsified Asphalt Reference Formulation (mass fraction)**
Base asphalt: 62%
QXME 87 dosage: 1.6–1.8%
Latex: 0–3%
Water: to 100%
This system is designed for cationic quick-set emulsified asphalt applications. Latex can be optionally incorporated according to project technical requirements to further enhance asphalt film toughness and water damage resistance of mixtures, offering flexible formulation adjustment space.
**Micro-Surfacing Specific Emulsified Asphalt Reference Formulation (mass fraction)**
Base asphalt: 62–63%
QXME 87 dosage: 1.6–2.0%
Latex: 3–4%
Water: to 100%
Latex is a mandatory component in micro-surfacing systems to improve wear resistance and crack resistance of the cured slurry seal layer. This formulation is suitable for preventive micro-surfacing maintenance on high-grade highways and urban arterial roads. Both formulations are easy to implement on conventional emulsified asphalt production lines. Customers can fine-tune emulsifier dosage and formula ratios with technical support from Shanghai Qixuan Chemical, matching customized project requirements based on selected asphalt grades, aggregate properties and technical specifications.
In terms of engineering application scenarios, QXME 87 is applicable to preventive maintenance and emergency pavement repair works on expressways, national & provincial highways, and municipal roads. As a thin-layer maintenance solution with fast construction speed, moderate cost, waterproofing and wear resistance, micro-surfacing is the preferred technology for treating early-stage pavement defects. Cationic quick-set emulsified asphalt is widely adopted for pavement pothole repair and seal coat applications. Both scenarios impose stringent requirements on the breaking rate, mixing stability and early strength of emulsified asphalt. Validated in numerous projects, QXME 87 performs reliably under these working conditions.
The core objective of road maintenance engineering is to extend pavement service life and reduce the full-life-cycle maintenance cost. High-quality emulsifiers are not merely raw materials for emulsified asphalt production, but also technical cornerstones of the whole maintenance solution. While supplying QXME 87 products, Shanghai Qixuan Chemical provides a comprehensive technical service package, including formulation debugging guidance, production process optimization and on-site construction technical support. From lab-scale emulsification trials and pilot production on manufacturing lines to technical follow-up at construction sites, we help customers stably produce qualified emulsified asphalt and efficiently deliver road maintenance projects.
Against the backdrop of continuous maintenance upgrading for transportation infrastructure in China, the demand for high-performance, stable asphalt emulsifying materials in the preventive pavement maintenance market keeps rising. With stable product quality, broad aggregate adaptability and proven engineering track records, QXME 87 cationic asphalt emulsifier serves as a reliable option for micro-surfacing and cationic quick-set emulsified asphalt projects, facilitating quality improvement and efficiency gains in domestic road maintenance and safeguarding highway traffic safety.
Post time: Sep-11-2026