Chip seals, also know as "oil and chip" or "surface treatments", have been
applied throughout the United States for many, many years with tremendous
success. Chip seals are very economical! This is another useful tool to be
incorporated into the pavement management programs.
A chip seal can be single or double course, consisting of spray applied
polymer modified high quality asphalt emulsion to the existing roadway utilizing
a pressurized distributor truck. Immediately following the distributor truck a
self-propelled chip spreader applies a layer of durable, crushed, angular high friction
aggregate (chips) to the sprayed emulsion. Behind the chip spreader are the rollers.
These rollers are used to firmly embed and lock the chips into the layer of emulsion.
This creates a tightly knit riding surface that will last for many years to
come.
Chip seals are used to provide a high friction wearing course over an old pavement.
Double Chip Seals have been used extensively as a treatment for unimproved (dirt)
roadways. Chip seals also help seal small cracks and waterproof the old
pavement.
With this process, traffic can slowly drive on the freshly applied chip seal immediately
after rolling. This keeps work zone traffic delays to a minimum.
Florida Highway Products has been successful in applying chip seals for years due to
our attention to detail, technical awareness, proper operational procedures and
state-of-the-art equipment. Florida Highway Products manufactures its own asphalt
emulsions modifed to solve local pavement problems. |
