Topics

Bitumen: Refining, Types and

Conventional Properties Introduction - Historical Background
Refining
Asphalt Mix
By Types and Uses Materials
Prof. Prithvi Singh Kandhal
Conventional Physical Properties and Tests
Associate Director Emeritus Bitumen
National Center for Asphalt Technology
Auburn University, Alabama USA Aggregates
pkandhal@gmail.com
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 Bitumen
Bitumen

Asphalt Cement
Tar
(from petroleum crude)
(from coal) Natural Petroleum
asphaltic bitumen
road tar asphalt binder Bitumen Bitumen
coal tar

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Trinidad Lake asphaltic bitumen was used

in the US during 1870s for roads and
Natural Bitumen streets. It contained about 50-57% bitumen;
rest was colloidal clay of volcanic origin. Refining - Manufacture of Paving
Early 1900s saw popularity of automobiles Bitumen
Lake Bitumen Rock Bitumen
and discovery of refining process for
Trinidad Lake and Gilsonite mined in petroleum crude
Bermudez Lake Utah
Gradually, refined bitumen replaced natural
bitumen

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Boscan Arabian Nigeria

Venezualan Heavy Light
API Degrees 10.1 28.2 38.1
Refining Bitumen Binders Sp. Gravity
% Sulfur
0.999
6.4
0.886
2.8
0.834
0.2
3
Gasoline 6
21
Atmospheric distillation Kerosene 7
Light gas oil 33
Distillation at reduced pressure 14
Heavy gas oil 26
Solvent Refining 10
ROSE (Residuum Oil Supercritical 20
Extraction) 28
16
Bitumen
Controlled air blowing residuum 58
30
27
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Percentages by volume

Cutback Bitumen:
Types of Bitumen Binders Cutback Bitumen
Rapid Cure (RC) Grades and Uses
Cut with high volatility solvent such as naphtha or
Neat Bitumen Binder (called Asphalt gasoline
Rapid Curing (RC) Medium Curing (MC) Slow Curing (SC)
Cement in US) [Bitumen + Naphtha] [Bitumen + Kerosene] [Bitumen + Oil]
Medium Cure (MC) Tack Coat and Cold Mix & Patching Mix Cold Mix &
Cutback Bitumen Binders Surface Treatment and Patching Mix
Bitumen binders cut with petroleum Cut with moderate volatility solvent such as kerosene Prime Coat SC - 70
RC - 30
solvents RC - 70 MC - 30 SC - 250
Slow Cure (SC) RC - 250 MC - 70 SC - 800
Emulsified Bitumen Binders MC - 250 SC - 3000
Cut with low volatility solvent such as low viscosity RC - 800
Solution of bitumen, water, and emulsifying MC - 800
agent oil
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 Issues with Cutback Bitumen Emulsified Bitumen
High energy, costly solvent is wasted into Blend of bitumen, water, and an emulsifying agent
the atmosphere Produced in a high shear, colloid mill
Air pollution Environmental regulations Emulsion must break or set for water to be
are stringent now removed leaving behind neat bitumen binder
Relatively pollution free (no solvent)
Safety: Cutback bitumen have low flash
Safer to use compared to cutbacks
point
Can be applied at lower temperatures thus saving
fuel costs
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Grades of Emulsified Bitumen

Setting rates:
RS = Rapid Set
MS = Medium Set
SS = Slow Set
Same for anionic and cationic
Setting rate controlled by type and amount
of emulsifying agent

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Bitumen Physical Tests Bitumen Physical Tests (Cont.)

5 CATEGORIES
Conventional Physical Properties Consistency tests Purity test
and Tests of Paving Bitumen - Penetration - Solubility
- Viscosity Safety test
- Softening point - Flash point
Aging tests Other tests
- Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT) - Ductility
- Rolling Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT) - Specific gravity
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Consistency Tests
Consistency describes the viscosity or degree of
fluidity of bitumen at any particular
temperature.
Bitumen is a thermoplastic material
Standard temperature for comparison
Grading based on consistency at a standard
temperature
Measure of hardening (aging)
- Elevated temperatures
- In-service
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Routine Tests for Consistency
Viscosity at 60C
Near maximum surface temperature
of the asphalt pavement
Viscosity at 135C
Near mixing and lay down
temperature for asphalt mix
Penetration at 25C
Near average service temperature
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Viscosity at 60C
Definition: Resistance to flow of a fluid
Test (ASTM D 2171)
Viscometers
- Cannon-Manning Vacuum Viscometer
- Asphalt Institute Vacuum Viscometer
Temperature control (water bath)
Operation: Under partial vacuum
Measurement: Timing marks
Unit: Poises (P) or Pascal second (Pa.s)
(1 Pa.s = 10 poises)
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Kinematic Viscosity at 135C

Test (ASTM D 2170)
Viscometer (Zeitfuchs Cross Arm viscometer)
Temperature control (oil bath)
Operation: Gravity flow
Measurement: Timing marks
Unit: Centistokes (cSt) or mm2/s
Kinematic: Gravitational forces induce flow
Absolute viscosity = Kinematic Viscosity x
Specific Gravity
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Penetration Test
Definition: Empirical measure of consistency
Zeitfuchs determined by measuring how far a needle
penetrates
Cross-Arm Test (ASTM D5)
Viscometer Penetrometer with a specified needle
Bitumen sample in small metal/glass
container
Water bath: 25C
Test duration: 5 sec
Penetration measured in 0.1 mm multiples
Unit: 1 penetration unit = 0.1 mm
60 penetration units = 6 mm
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Penetration Test Softening Point
(Ring and Ball)
Definition: Temperature at which bitumen
specimen cannot support its own weight and
starts flowing
Purpose
Evaluate temperature at which phase change
occurs
Test
Test conducted in Ethylene Glycol
Temperature rise rate 5C/min
Brass ring filled with bitumen and steel ball
placed on it
Temperature measured at the instant the
softened bitumen reaches the bottom
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Thin Film Oven Test

Softening Purpose
Point Test To subject bitumen to hardening conditions
approximating those that occur in normal
asphalt batch plant operations

Test (ASTM D 1754)

Forced draft oven (163 C)
Rotating shelf (5-6 RPM)
1/8 inch film of bitumen heated in pans
Time: 5 hours
Weight loss determined (%)
Viscosity or penetration of TFOT residue
measured
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Rolling Thin Film Oven Test

Purpose (RTFOT)
To subject bitumen to hardening conditions
approximating those that occur in normal
asphalt batch plant operations

Test (ASTM D 2872)

Forced draft oven (163 C)
Moving thin film in glass bottle
Rack rotates at a prescribed rate
Air jet (air flow 4000 ml/min)
Time: 75 minutes
Weight loss measured
Viscosity of RTFOT residue measured
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 Solubility Test Solubility (Purity)
Purpose
To determine bitumen purity in terms of
percentage soluble in trichloroethylene (TCE).
Mineral matter is not dissolved in TCE.

Test (ASTM D 2042)

Bitumen dissolved in TCE and sustained at 37
C for 1 hour
Filtered through a glass fiber pad
Insoluble material retained on pad
determined
Results expressed as % Purity
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Flash Point Test

Definition: Flash point is the temperature at Flash Point Test (Contd)
which the bitumen gives off enough vapor Uses
which can flash (ignite) in the presence of a
spark or open flame Safety during handling
Material quality/specification compliance
Test (ASTM D 92)
Cleveland Open-Cup (COC) method
Brass cup filled with bitumen binder heated at Comment
a prescribed rate Well above temperatures used in
Small flame passed over the surface asphalt mix production
periodically
Temperature at an instantaneous flash noted Below fire point (combustion
Results: Degrees C temperature)
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Ductility Test
Definition: Ability of the bitumen to be
stretched or drawn without breaking
Test
Empirical test
Test temperatures (25 C, 15 C, or 4 C)
Water bath (salt/alcohol)
Special specimen mold (dog bone shape)
Extension rate (5 cm/min or 1 cm/min)
Test Results in cm
Uses
Measure of tensile properties
Evaluate compatibility of blends

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 Specific Gravity
Definition: Ratio of the mass of bitumen binder
at a given temperature to the mass of an Specific Gravity
equal volume of water at the same
temperature

Test (ASTM D 70)

Pycnometer method
Temperature specified (25 C or 15 C)

Uses
Specification compliance
Mix design analysis
Monetary compensation/transactions

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