AustStab Awards of Excellence 2014
Risk Reduction Foamed Bitumen
Foaming Agent
Stabilised Pavements of Australia Pty Ltd
Category 1 – Work Health and Safety
Sponsored by
Foamed Bitumen Stabilisation
 Foaming agent must be added to enhance the
bitumen foaming properties
 Current foaming agent is dangerous good and
hazardous substance
Hazard Identification
 SPA identified that a substantial number of risks
could be reduced in the workplace through
substitution of existing foaming agent
Development of Alternate
Foaming Agent
Identification of product standards
Existing material properties/composition
Handling and application
Laboratory trial program
Field trial program
Laboratory Results
No Additive
Current
Interfoam
Bitumen
Temperature (⁰C)
180
180
180
Water Added (%
of Bitumen)
2.51
2.51
2.65
Expansion Ratio
(ratio of maximum
foamed volume to
original volume)
8
10
14
Half-life (seconds)
10.7
15.7
60
Standards require a minimum expansion
ratio of 10 and half-life of 20 seconds
RMS Port Macquarie Field Trial
Average Results for One
Bitumen Run Using Interfoam
Bitumen Temperature
(⁰C)
184
Water Added (% of
Bitumen)
2.6
Expansion Ratio (ratio
of maximum foamed
volume to original
volume)
11.2
Half-life (seconds)
19.6
Product Hazard Comparison
Current Product
Interfoam
Dangerous Good
Hazardous Good
Hazardous Good
Strong odour – inhalation of product
will result in severe headaches and
nausea
Minor odour – has not caused
headaches or nausea from any SPA
trials
35⁰C flashpoint
61⁰C flashpoint – less flammable
product
Highly aquatic toxicity
Lower aquatic toxicity