What Does Prime Coat Mean In Road Construction?
What Does Prime Coat Mean In Road Construction?
A prime coat is an application of low-viscosity asphalt to a granular base in preparation for an initial layer (or surface course layer) of asphalt. Its purpose is to bind the loose aggregates of the base course, promote adhesion between layers, protect the base from rain, and prevent slippage.
Prime coats are typically made from cutback asphalt or emulsified asphalt, though recently engineers have been eliminating their use due to studies indicating that they do not play a significant role in pavement stability.
The Virginia Department of Transportation and other agencies have discontinued the use of prime coats due to changes in aggregate bases and asphalt materials.
What Is The Important Purpose Of Prime Coats?
The important purpose of prime coats is to bind the loose aggregates of CABC so that it can be prepared for subsequent construction activity of laying an asphalt layer.
Prime coats also harden or toughen the base surface to provide a work platform for construction equipment, and are responsible for protecting the substrate before adding additional layers.
They should not be used as a replacement for cutback asphalt, nor intended for construction, bidding, or permit purposes.
What Materials Are Used For A Prime Coat?
Asphalt emulsions are commonly used for prime coats. Other materials such as coal tar emulsion, polymer-modified coal tar emulsion, emulsified wood pitch, and emulsified naphthenic oils have also been used in the past, but asphalt is still the most common material.
A tack coat (also known as a bond coat) is a light application of asphalt emulsion between hot mix asphalt layers designed to create a strong adhesive bond without damaging the base course.
Cationic bitumen emulsion can be used as both prime coat and tack coat, with all asphalt binder materials used on TxDOT projects listed in Item 300 “Asphalts, Oils, and Emulsions”.
How Thick Should The Prime Coat Be?
For a normally clean environment, a coat of primer up to 50 microns is considered adequate. For a dusty or humid location requiring constant servicing and cleaning, a thicker coat of up to 70-80 microns is recommended.
A single coat of primer and paint can achieve a thickness of up to 50 microns. It is important to note that the consistency of the primer should be appropriate for the surface being painted and that it may require thinning before application.
Additionally, it is recommended to apply two coats of primer before painting and allow each coat to dry before applying the next one.
How Long Does It Take For The Prime Coat To Dry?
Most latex primers dry to the touch in 30 minutes to one hour, but for best results, don’t paint until the primer completely dries—which can take up to 3 hours, depending on temperature and humidity.
On wood, most latex primers take 30 minutes to an hour to dry to the touch, however, they require 3 hours for full drying before painting.
What Is The Difference Between A Prime Coat And A Tack Coat In Road Construction?
The prime coat and tack coat are both used in road construction to form an adhesive bond between layers of coating. A prime coat is applied directly to a prepared base before additional layers of support or protection are added.
It is mainly responsible for protecting the substrate of a construction project before adding additional layers, and can also act as a binder with secondary and tertiary layers.
A tack coat is applied after the prime coat, to form an adhesive bond between the tack coat and the next layer of coating. It prevents slippage and may sometimes function as a more permanent bond between two surfaces.
Tack coats are typically used when attaching asphalt to asphalt or concrete, while prime coats are used to attach asphalt to the base course
