Seal Coating

The age-old adage "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" aptly applies to the importance of seal coating in airfield maintenance. Opting for maintenance solutions like seal coats, rejuvenation, fog seals, and microsurfacing not only preserves the integrity of your pavement but is also a smart financial move in the long run. Why delve into the costly realm of rehabilitation and construction when preventative measures can serve you better?

These services offer the best alternatives to re-paving on the market. From a cost-benefit standpoint, few things are as cost-effective and value saving over the long run than seal coating. Sealcoating costs pennies per square foot compared to the dollars needed to repair or replace damaged asphalt. Asphalt seal coating fills surface voids, which reduces exposure to oxygen and UV rays and reduces the depth to which oil or gas can penetrate the asphalt. Sealcoating also acts as a waterproofing agent, minimizing the rate at which water enters the asphalt. Sealcoating asphalt prevents the seepage of water and moisture from rain and snow, thus preventing damage from freeze-thaw cycles which is a common reason your airfield begins forming seam cracks or even worse, alligator cracks. Hi-Lite offers unparalleled experience and expertise in this field. Hi-Lite has been the go-to choice for thousands of customers over the last two decades. 

Hi-Lite offers the following seal coating related services:

• Coal Tar Seal Coating (P-630, P-631)
  • P-630/P-631 seal coats are Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specifications for a refined coal tar emulsion with additives, slurry seal surface treatment. It's used for airport sealcoating.
  • You should only apply P-631 to unsealed asphalt or surfaces previously sealed with either Asphalt Emulsion or Refined Tar based sealers. You should not apply P-631 over surfaces sealed with gilsonite and other solvent based seal coatings.

• Emulsified Asphalt Seal Coating (P-623)
  • FAA Item P-623 is a specification for emulsified asphalt spray seal coat. This seal coat is a polymer-modified emulsion of binders made from crude petroleum, mineral fillers, water, and polymer. It is applied to an existing asphalt surface.
  • P-623 may be applied to: Pavements in fair or better condition, and low to moderate weathered surfaces

• Asphalt Rejuvenation (P-632)
  • FAA P-632 is a bituminous pavement rejuvenation specification. It differs from seal coats, which are made of coal tar and asphalt emulsion.
  • Asphalt rejuvenators are designed to restore the original properties of aged asphalt binders. They penetrate the asphalt, restoring essential oils, and repairing damage within the asphalt matrix.
  • Rejuvenators can reduce the damaging effects of surface oxidation, which is the primary factor in most asphalt pavement deterioration. They can also seal hairline cracks and protect the pavement from water penetration and further deterioration.
  • Rejuvenators are intended for aging pavements in fair condition.

• Asphalt Microsurfacing (P-629)
  • P-629 is a specification for thermoplastic coal tar surfacing materials, like GRIP-FLEX.
  • Micro-Surface is a mixture of asphalt emulsion and aggregate that is applied to a previously prepared asphalt surface. The mixture is modified with polymers and other ingredients so it cures more quickly.
  • Micro-surfacing using P-629 is a low-impact pavement preservation process that can be used on existing pavements that are raveled or smooth.
  • Micro-surfacing is a cold-application paving process that uses specialized equipment to spread a mixture of polymer-modified asphalt emulsion, mineral aggregate, water, and additives over a prepared surface. The mixture is typically placed between 1/4" and 3/8" thick.

• Gilsonite Asphalt Emulsion (P-608, P-608R)P-608 is a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) specification for a type of emulsified asphalt seal coat. It contains at least 20% gilsonite and is medium to fine graded. P-608 is applied to runway and high-speed taxiway surfaces at airports.
  • P-608-R is a rapid cure gilsonite-asphalt surface treatment that can be used as an alternative to P-608. P-608-R contains at least 40% gilsonite.
  • Gilsonite-based sealers are designed to extend the life of asphalt pavements. They mitigate the effects of surface oxidation and moisture damage.
  • Best applied to pavements in fair or better condition, low to moderate weathered surfaces and new asphalt pavement
  • Not compatible with pavements that have been previously treated with coal tar sealants or rejuvenators.