What is Bitumen?
Types of Bitumen & Uses
- Bitumen Emulsion
- Blown Emulsion
- Cutback Emulsion
- Straight Run Emulsion
- Plastic Bitumen
- Modified Bitumen
Type of Bitumen |
Production |
Classification |
Features |
Applications |
Bitumen Emulsion |
Bitumen + Water + Emulsifying Agent |
Rapid Setting (RS) |
Emulsifying Agent provides stability |
Road Repair and Soil Stabilization |
Blown Bitumen/Oxidized Bitumen |
Blowing semi-solid bitumen hot state by air under pressure |
High softening point |
Filler materials for concrete roads and construction joints in
buildings |
|
Cutback Bitumen |
Bitumen viscosity is reduced by adding kerosene, gasoline, or light
oil |
Rapid Curing (RC) cutbacks [ contains gasoline] |
Cutbacks are a form of fluid binder. |
Road construction and soil stabilization |
Straight Run
Bitumen |
Distilled bitumen to a definite viscosity |
Used without further heating treatment |
||
Plastic Bitumen |
Bitumen + thinner + filter in plastic form (40-45 %) |
Filling cracks in masonry, stopping leakage |
||
   Modified Bitumen |
|
Bitumen + plastics (resins/ester/synthetic resin) at low temperature |
Have a greater flow for expansion |
Waterproofing |
What is Asphalt?
Types of Asphalt and Uses
- Natural asphalt
- Artificial or Mastic Asphalt
Type of Asphalt |
Formation |
Types |
Features |
Applications |
Natural
Asphalt |
Naturally formed as fossil
deposits or in certain rocks. |
Lake Asphalt [ Found as fossil
deposits in Trinidad at depth 3-60 m with 40 to 70 % bitumen. Rock asphalt [rocks with bonding
bitumen] |
 |
Rock asphalt used for road works
after slightly heating |
Artificial or
Mastic Asphalt |
Limestone dust + sand + grit or coarse aggregate +
Black Bitumen (heated to liquid form) |
 |
Tough,
durable, non-flammable, non-absorbent, and noise-absorbing. |
The mixture is heated for preparation and cooled to a
solid form. Â In site applications, it is reheated for
waterproofing works. |
What is Tar?
Types of Tar and Uses
- Coal Tar
- Wood Tar
- Mineral Tar
Type of Tar |
Formation |
Types |
Features |
Applications |
Coal
Tar |
Coal is heated in closed iron
vessels to form coke. The escaping gas is condensed to form coal tar. |
 |
Good Adhesive property |
Road works |
Wood Tar |
Distillation of pine and other resinous wood |
 |
Contains
creosote oil which is a preservative for wood. |
Wood preservation and excellent anti-termite coat. |
Mineral Tar |
Distillation of bituminous shale |
 |
Less
volatile that wood tar |
 |
Difference Between Asphalt, Bitumen, and Tar
Test on Bituminous Materials
- Penetration Test
- Softening Point Test