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Bituminous Materials
Bituminous Materials
Bituminous Materials
The term bitumen is a generic name applied to various mixtures
of hydrocarbons
They may be gaseous, liquid, semisolid, or solid
Most common materials within the family of bitumen’s are
tars, pitches, and asphalts
Destructive distillation is carried out on natural materials
produces tar
Partial evaporation or fractional distillation of tar produces
the solid or semi-solid residue of pitch
Asphalts are dark brown or black solids or semi solids which
are found in the natural state and are also produced by the
refining of petroleum
Some natural deposits of asphalts are found in Kentucky,
Utah, Colorado, and California
95% of asphalt materials used in North America are derived
from the refining of petroleum
Test of Flow of Properties
The viscous or flow properties of bitumen’s
are of importance, both at the high
temperatures encountered in processing and
application and at the low temperatures to
which bitumen’s are subjected in service.
Flow properties are complex, and as a result,
tests have been formulated to measure the
consistency of the materials at temperatures
comparable to those encountered during the
service life of the bitumen.
Test of Flow of Properties
The penetration test
Measures the depth of penetration in tenths of Viscosity Test
millimeters of a weight needle into a bitumen
during a period of time at a given temp.
Softening point test
Measures the temperature degrees Celsius at
which a steel ball falls a known distance
through the bitumen
Ductility Test
Are conducted to determine the amount a
bitumen will stretch at temperatures below its
softening point
Viscosity Tests
Are used to determine the flow characteristics
of asphalts in the range of temperatures used
during application
Flash Point Test
Indicates the temperature to which asphalt
cement can be safely heated without danger
of flash. A brass cup is partially filled with
cement and heated at a prescribed rate. A
small flame is place over the surface of the
sample
Thin Film Oven Test
Test is used to obtain a general indication of
the amount of hardening which may be
expected to occur in an asphalt cement during
the plant operation.
Penetration Test
Types of Bitumen’s
Tar and Pitch
Most of the tar and pitch used in construction
is made by the distillation of coal.
Tar is used to saturate felt paper and coated
kraft paper to produce a waterproof
membrane.
Coal – tar pitch oxidizes quite rapidly when
exposed to ultra violet rays of the sun.
Types of Bitumen’s
Asphalt
A large percentage of
the asphalt used
results from the
refining of crude oils
There are three main
groups of asphalt
products produced
from straight run
asphalts
Asphalt
Advantages
Easy to handle