Hat outline-line-and-image-two-groups smallThe Best by testWhat is Tip Top Tack Coat?

Tip Top Tack Coat is high-quality asphalt emulsion tack coat for pavement bonding applications. Our Tack Coat is a specially-designed high quality undiluted product for ensuring a uniform and strong bond between layers of asphalt in road construction and for maintenance purposes.

"The Best By Test"

The principal source of asphalt tack coat binders is from the refining of crude oil and is a byproduct from the oil refineries. Our tack coat is “The Best By Test.”  We do not skimp on or dilute the right materials in the production process. Tip Top Tack Coat meets and/or exceeds all state and federal specifications for asphalt tack coat emulsions. Tip Top Tack is an RS-1 asphalt emulsion, which means it is “rapid set” and has a “low viscosity.” Being a rapid set emulsion, our tack coat contains a maximum of 45 percent water and emulsive additives, so it is not meant to be diluted with water. Our rapid-setting emulsion typically has a higher viscosity than slow-setting emulsions.

Description of Tack Coat

Tack coat is a brownish-black emulsion of asphalt that is applied to the prepared, existing surface prior to placing new hot mix asphalt. The tack coat bonds to the original layer and then the new hot asphalt, when it is placed, bonds to the layer of emulsion creating a monolithic pavement structure. The ability to make formed of a single large section of asphalt is what holds the pavement layers together so it will not slip with traffic on in. Creating this bond also helps prevent water intrusion that result in potholes, delaminating or frost breaking up the newly-placed pavement layer. After putting down the tack and exposure to the air Tack coat ”breaks” or dries in 10 to 15 minutes and is incredibly sticky when it does, so great care must be taken not to get in on vehicles or clothing.

Typical Tack Coat Applications

Tack coat is applied to existing pavement, including planed asphalt surfaces. It is used for bonding between hot mix asphalt layers to prevent slippage and on vertical surfaces such as construction joints, curbs and trench cuts for both bonding and waterproofing. The application rate changes on vertical surfaces where you are looking for a residual tack coat rate that will thoroughly coat the vertical face without running off.  There is also a need to create a seal between the old and new asphalt. 

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5 Gallons of Tack Coat

Advantages of Tip Top Tack’s Rs-1 Tack Coat

  • Fast dry time vs. cutback asphalt
  • Easy and uniform spray
  • Low temperature cure
  • Highly-adhesive properties
  • Enhance structural strength of layers
  • Prevents lateral movement of structural layers
  • Water resistant and enhances shedding of water
  • Provides an impervious layer to prevent water ingress from the possible water table below
  • Creates a bond between existing surface and a new course of asphalt
  • To coat and bond loose mineral particles on the original surface to be paved.
  • To seal surface pores and make the surface water-resistant.

Contact us for price and delivery or fill out our Tack Coat quote form. Pick up is available in Hyde Park, MA and shipped promptly by common carrier to you. For more information, call (781) 254-2773 with any questions you may have about our tack coat.

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What is Tack Coat?

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Tack coat is glue for asphalt layers to promote bonding between old and new asphalt. Due to oxidation, wear and contaminates, a material is needed to ensure a durable connection between the two layers. So, a liquid asphalt emulsion acts as a glue when applied to the old asphalt. Since the material we sell is rapid set in short order, it will set and can be paved over. Without this step, one layer would just lay next to or on top of the existing pavement. With out the bonding agent traffic and water infiltration caues the pavement to pull apart and the asphalt starts to break down.

This tack coat can create a strong adhesive bond between pavement layers without slippage. The amount of material applied is not a thick application. The tack coat we supply is not meant to be diluted. It meets specifications for correct bonding of asphalt layers. It is especially important not do dilute the material were applications of tack coat are used on or under porous layers of asphalt pavement. A second situation that is very important that the material not be diluted around patches where the tack coat also functions as a seal coat. The correct abililty to bond is dependent on enough bonding agent to hold the two parts together.

What is Tack Coat Made Of?

It is an asphalt emulsion. The trick is to take the very sticky, thick, bituminous asphalt and grind the particles very finely. This is done in what is called a colloidal mill. These small asphalt droplets are held apart by adding an emulsifier and water. So the effect is asphalt will help with suspension and is kept as a liquid so it can be sprayed on. The water dries out and leaves the asphalt binder behind. To see more about how tack coat is made we have information on that here.

We have an online quote form available for you to request any amount of tack you may need or please call us  (781) 254-2773

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Asphalt Emulsion

An asphalt emulsion is used to make an asphalt prime coat that is designed to bond two masses of asphalt pavement into a single, durable unit that will last over time. If the material is diluted with too much water, the total amount of applied asphalt goes down and reduces the durability of the bond.

RS-1

The specific asphalt emulsion we sell is called RS-1 which is a rapid set formulation. The rapid set formulation is so it will be easy to apply and will "break" so that is quickly ready to have the pavement installed. This formulation of tack is good for most paving applications were new and old asphalt needs to be bonded together. It is a formulation of asphalt blended with specialty chemicals and ground into fine particles so it will remain in suspension in water. The water helps control spread the thin film of bonding agent over the old asphalt. Then when the water evaporates the remaining asphalt bonding liquid is ready to be paved over.

How This Emulsion is Created

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The trick is to overcome the thick stickiness of asphalt so a bonding agent can be created to hold two layers of hot mix asphalt together. To put it simply, very small particles are created and suspended in water so a thin bonding layer of asphalt can be created. By definition, an emulsion is a mixture of two unblendable liquids combined with a dispersant to keep the particles apart. It is a contradiction, but can be done with a colloidal mill.

Colloidal Mill

Making very small droplets of asphalt to create liquid asphalt is done with a colloidal mill. This equipment uses hydraulic shearing of the asphalt to create the particles that can be suspended in water, like fine silt stays in a pond. There needs to be the addition of soap-like emulsion to keep the particles from sticking back together in one mass. A colloidal mill uses speed and close tolerances to create these small particles.

Environmentally Inert

The emulsion method of creating tack coat is environmentally better than cutback asphalt. Cutback asphalt is made with a petroleum solvent in order to create a flowable material. When the cut back is applied, the solvent disperses to the atmosphere. With tack coat made out of an emulsion, the use of water and a dispersant keeps the asphalt particles from sticking together until the water evaporates. An additional environmental factor is, unlike cut back emulsion, tack coat does not have to be heated so this saves energy.

If you need asphalt emulsion for your asphalt pavement needs, please call (781)254-2773. We have tack available in 5 gallon pails or also sold by the pallet.

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Spraying Tack Coat

For jobs were larger volume of tack application are needed our five gallon pails can be used to refill. Stock pileing five gallon pails on the job and be a time efficiant way to keep the operation going. If you may have a need call (781) 254-2773

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Tip Top Tack Coat

50 Easton Avenue

Hyde Park Massachusetts 02137

Phone (781) 254-2773

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