BITUMEN
A binder component obtained by appropriate methods of distillation of crude oil. Bitumensused for road building and/or repair are grouped as asphalt concrete or paving grade bitumens.
USAGE OF BITUMENS:
Types of Asphalt Mixes Hot Bituminous Mixture (HBM)
Also being names as hot mix asphalt, hot bituminous mixture is obtained by mixing bitumen and mineral aggregate under 160 degrees Celsius temperature in asphalt plants. Ratio of aggregate to bitumen is between 93:7 and 97:3 in the mixture. Hot bituminous mixtures, which should be used for the roads that have 1000+ heavy vehicle traffic daily, is applied as 2 or 3 layers in different thicknesses, depending on the traffic density.
Warm Mix Asphalt
Warm mix asphalt is a bituminous mixture prepared by decreasing the temperature of HBM by 20-30 degrees Celsius and using an appropriate method in order to decrease emission rate and save energy. During the preparation of the mixture, decreasing the temperature by 10 degrees Celsius results in 50% decrease in the emission rate and thus, it is clear that this new technology will be much more important in the future although it is not widespread yet at the moment. There are different methods to produce asphalt at low temperatures by various mixing processes as well as some methods in which some hydrophobic materials like zeolite are used to repel water or paraffin is preferredin order to decrease the viscosity of bitumen.
Cold Mix Asphalt
Cold mixes, which are prepared in plants or during the application onto the road, are applied as pavement for low-traffic roads and used to ensure impermeability and surface smoothness for asphalt coated roads. In cold mixes, crushed aggregate in certain dimensions and liquid petroleum asphalt or bitumen emulsion are used.
Foam Asphalt
It is the mixture of foam bitumen and aggregate. While bitumen is still hot, it is treated with water and foam bitumen is obtained. As the surface area and viscosity of foam bitumen are increased and decreased, respectively, this type of bitumen is in the most appropriate consistence to mix with aggregate and it is flexible and fatigue resistant as well. Being an alternative to cold asphalt, foam asphalt is more economical as it requires lower amount of bitumen. Moreover, as it is not necessary to heat and dry the aggregate content, high amount of energy saving is obtained.
Types of Bitumen Packages
1-Bulk
Carried by specially designed flexible tanks or special tanker ships according to the customer’s request or tanker vehicles that can carry 23-24 ton per vehicle.
2-Bigbag
Carried as crushed or frozen in 1000-kg-polypropylen bags and by container and trucks.
3-Polybag
A package type that is made of polyethylene. Product is solidified like ice, placed into this package and transferred. Each package is around 30-40 kg and the product is ready to use after being burnt together with the package.
4-Barrel
Offered to the market in metal barrels that have 180-190 kg capacity. This type of package is the most efficient, fastest and easiest way in case of high volume purchase. Some countries recycle this packaging material by different technologies and receive further income.
What is bitumen?
Daily price of bitumen?
Bitumen import?
Bitumen export?
Rules of bitumen export?
Bitumen Analysis?
