Micro Surfacing

Micro surfacing is a cold-applied pavement preservation treatment made from a mixture of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, crushed mineral aggregate, water, mineral filler (such as cement), and chemical additives. Applied as a thin wearing course (typically around 3/8 inch), it is placed over asphalt pavements in structurally sound condition to seal against moisture intrusion, protect against oxidation and raveling, restore friction and skid resistance, and correct minor rutting or surface profile irregularities. Because it uses a chemically setting emulsion, the mix breaks and cures rapidly, allowing roads to reopen to traffic within less than an hour under suitable conditions. When placed at the optimal time in a pavement's life cycle, micro surfacing can extend pavement service life by 6 to 10 years while delivering roughly a 50% savings in life-cycle costs compared to traditional mill-and-fill overlays.