Soilworks products are the industry’s top standard due to our insistence on creating high performance soil stabilization and dust control products that stand up to rigorous testing – both in the lab and in the field. Our commitment to quality and performance has led to our involvement and testing in hundreds of real-world situations. The following library of reports, presentations, specifications, approvals and other similar documents provide you, our customer, the transparency and dependable assurance that is expected from Soilworks.
Unpaved road dust control performance is evaluated through field application on a high-traffic forest haul road, highlighting the importance of penetration, particle binding, and long-term surface stability under heavy vehicle loading. The document emphasizes dust suppression methods that infiltrate aggregate layers, coat fine particles, and reduce airborne emissions without relying on continuous watering. Application techniques, dilution ratios, and multi-pass treatments are discussed to achieve deep penetration and rapid curing, supporting uninterrupted traffic flow and warning against approaches that merely surface-seal without structural cohesion.
Effective dust control is shown to require more than moisture retention—successful treatments impart cohesion, resist leaching, withstand traffic abrasion, and maintain performance over extended hauling cycles. Soilworks solutions address these challenges directly:
Durasoil provides long-lasting, non-water-dependent dust control for unpaved roads, haul routes, and industrial access roads where traffic continuity and reduced maintenance are critical.
Soiltac and Gorilla-Snot deliver polymer-based soil stabilization that binds aggregate fines, increases surface durability, and supports penetration-driven dust suppression in high-wear environments.
For unpaved roads, forestry operations, mining haul routes, and industrial access corridors, Soilworks products offer proven solutions to control fugitive dust, improve road performance, and reduce reapplication frequency. Contact Soilworks to evaluate site conditions and select the optimal dust control or soil stabilization strategy for sustained operational efficiency.
A DEMONSTRATION OF A DUST PALLIATIVE
James R. Bassel, P.E., Civil Engineer
Background
Asphotac is a proprietary asphalt emulsion that is distributed by Actin, Inc., East Chicago, Indiana. The product has been used to control dust problems at various industrial steel production companies in northwest Indiana. Asphotac was demonstrated on Road 2901, Fremont National Forest, Silver Lake District, Oregon. The road was 1O.7 miles long and 16 feet wide with turnouts approximately every 500
feet. Its elevation varied from 4800 to 6800 feet with an average grade of 6 percent. A third of the road was flat and maximum grade was 12 percent. Prior to the Asphotac application the road had 4 inches of 1/2-inch minus crushed aggregate base course. The rock had been compacted until visual displace-ment ceased, and the road had a smooth running, out-slope surface.
Photo 1. Asphotac Application
For additional Information contact:
Roads Program Leader
San Dimas Technology & Development Center
444 East Bonita Ave.
San Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: 714-599-1267: FTS: 700-793-8000; FAX: 714-592-2309: DG-SDTC: W07A
Photo 2. Mixing Asphotac Concentrate and Water on Job Site
Water was supposed to have been the original dust abatement material, but water is not an abundant resource because the Fremont NF is on the dry side (eastside) of the Cascades. The Forest had been investigating different methods of dust abatement other than using water. This product would satisfy that requirement and would better protect the Forest resources and road investment as well as maintain-ing traffic safety better than water.
Asphotac Application
Asphotac arrived at the job site in a concentrate and was mixed on the job site. For this project, the concentrate was diluted one part concentrate to five parts water (photo 2). Almost any water source may be used to mix with the concentrate. The Forest’s water sources were a spring-fed pond at the end of ‘ the project and the District Compound. Since the road had been shaped, no other preparation was
necessary. A total of 0.60 gal per sq yd of mixture was applied (or 0.10 gal of concentrate) In throe applications. First application was 0.30 gal per sq yd, second and third were both 0.15 gal per sq yd, The road’s moisture content needs to be less than optimal before application. Lower moisture will allow Asphotac to penetrate quickly and deeply, duo to the mixture’s high water content.
After the first application, bubbles formed on tho road surface indicating that the voids In the rood were being filled (photo 3). Penetration was 1 to 1-1/2 inches after the first application. The othor two applications did not penetrate as much, but developed a thin surf ace crust. Traffic, because of Asphotac’s fast penetration and curing time, con resume almost immediately after application with· out harm to vehicle or road.
Photo 3. Bubbles Forming on Road Surface During First Application
Test Results
The timber volume was 2 million board feet, and it took about 2-1/2 months to haul the volume. Impor-tant properties of successful dust palliation, accord-ing to “An Evaluation of Dust Abatement Material Used in Region 6” by Brian Langdon, are as follows:
These properties were considered to determine the effectiveness of Asphotac. The observations and comparisons were made by the Forest Geotechnical Representative and the Project Engineer. Some of those observations of effectiveness and benefits of Asphotac are as follows:
The dust that occurred on the Asphotac-treat-ed portion seemed to settle quickly. Halfway through the haul, the observers noticed that the Asphotac had penetrated the first two inches of depth and lightly coated the aggregate and soil particles. This added weight of the coating shortened the airborne time of the particles.
The Forest Service Force Account Crew noticed that the Asphotac treated roadway was easy to scarify and repair, making tho crew’s work faster to accomplish.
Project Cost
The equipment, with operators required for Aspho-tac to be applied, included a tanker truck for tho Asphotac, a water truck to dilute it, and a spreader truck. The actual project cost for the 10.7 miles of the Asphotac application was:
Actual application rated gal/sq yd…… 0.1
Unit cost including transportation
and application costs………………….. $2. per gal
Product Cost……………………… $23,000.
Water Cost…………………………. $1,200.
Total Project Cost………………. $24,200.
Photo 4. Traffic Can Start Using the Road Soon After Application
Conclusions
The observers concluded that Asphotac met the properties of a successful dust palliation. Asphotac demonstrated good resilience after the mainte-nance crew reworked the road. Asphotac was still controlling dust.
Asphotac for this project did not prevent wash-boarding or potholing, but prevention of washboard-ing or potholing are not requirements of dust palliation. Asphotac succeeded as a dust palliative throughout the haul (see photos 5 and 6).
Specifications Asphalt Emulsion SS-XTAL-100
Viscosity, Saybolt Fural at 77°F (seconds)…………………… = 20 – 100
Storage stability test, 24 hours, percent……………………… = less than 1
Demulsibility, 50 ml, 0.01 NCaCl , percent……………………. = less than 30
Sieve test, percent……………………………………………………… = less than 1
Residue from distillation, percent ………………………………….= 48 to 52
Settlement 5 days, percent…………………………………………. = less than 3
Comforms to Requirements of OSHA Standard 1910.1200
Photo 5. Traffic on Asphotac, Day 10.
Photo 6. Traffic on Asphotac, Day 40 (314 of Timber Haul).
Manufacturer’s information on Asphotac can be obtained from:
Michael Lopez, President Actin Inc.
P.O. Box 518
1102 E. Columbus Drive East Chicago, IN 46312 Phone: 219-397-5020
For additional information contact:
Roads Program Leader
San Dimas Technology & Development
Center 444 East Bonita Avenue
San Dimas, CA 91773
Phone: 714/599-1267; FTS 700/793-8000
FAX 714/592-2309; DG, SDTDC:W07A
Joe Acosta, Phone 503-576-2107
John Crumrine, Phone 503-947-6309 F
remont National Forest
524 North G Street
Lakeview, OR 97630
The Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its
own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this publication is for the information and convenience of the reader and does not constitute an endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
