1/2/2016

CE-1412
Civil Engineering
Materials
Bitumen

Introduction
Bituminous materials or asphalts are extensively used for
roadway construction, primarily because of their excellent
binding characteristics and water proofing properties and
relatively low cost.

Bituminous materials consists of bitumen which is a black or

dark colored solid or viscous cementitious substances
consists chiefly high molecular weight hydrocarbons derived
from distillation of petroleum or natural asphalt, has
adhesive properties, and is soluble in carbon disulphide.

Tars are residues from the destructive distillation of

organic substances such as coal and wood and are
temperature sensitive than bitumen. Bitumen will be
dissolved in petroleum oils where unlike tar.

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Bitumen
• Mixture of organic compounds (that
contains carbon), mostly
hydrocarbons.

• A non-polar (sharing of electrons

between atoms or arrangement of
polar bonds) material but have very
small amounts of polar organic
compounds (organic acids and bases).

Coal Tar & Bitumen

Coal Tar:

It is obtained as a by-product in the destructive

distillation or high temperature carbonization of
coal or as a by-product in the manufacture of
coal gas.

Whereas,
Bitumen is made as a end products from
distillation of or as extracts from selected
petroleum oils.

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Distillation

Asphalt & Bitumen

Bitumen:
Viscoelastic organic liquid comprised
predominantly of hydrocarbon
molecules.

Asphalt:
Combination of bitumen, aggregate
(stone) and air with visco-elasto-
plastic properties.

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Types of Bitumen
• Blown Bitumen

• Cut-Back Bitumen

• Bitumen Emulsion

• Straight Run Bitumen

Types of Bitumen
• Bitumen, properties of which, have been
modified by blowing air through it under
pressure at a high temperature is termed as
Blown Bitumen.

Production process:

1. Bitumen heating to 265-270 °C

2. Transferring melted bitumen to blowing towers
3. Blowing air to bitumen
4. Cooling melted bitumen with water
5. Packing

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Types of Bitumen
• Bitumen, the viscosity of which, has been
reduced by a volatile dilutent (karosene oil) is
termed as Bitumen Cut-Back.

It is obtained by fluxing bitumen with distillates

of petroleum or coal tar and is primarily used in
road construction. It is of three types;
(i) Rapid Curing (RC)
(ii) Medium Curing (MC)
(iii)Slow Curing (SC)

Types of Bitumen
• Bitumen, when sponsored in a finely divided
condition in an aqueous medium is termed as
Bitumen emulsion.
(i) Rapid Setting
(ii) Medium Setting
(iii)Slow Setting
Used in hilly areas.

• Bitumen, that has been distilled (vacuum and

steam refined) to a definite viscosity or
penetration without further treatment is
termed as Straight Run Bitumen.

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Characteristics
• Bitumen is a complex material
• Demonstrates viscoelastic material response
• Temperature dependent
• Time dependent
• Elastic solid at low temperatures
• Viscous fluid at high temperatures
• Combination (viscoelastic) at intermediate
temperatures and frequencies

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Tests on Bitumen
• There are a number of tests to assess the properties of
bituminous materials. The following tests are usually
conducted to evaluate different properties of bituminous
materials:

1. Penetration test (AASHTO T49)

2. Ductility test (AASHTO T51)
3. Softening point test (AASHTO T53-08)
4. Specific gravity test (ASTM D6857)
5. Viscosity test (ASTM D7496)
6. Flash and Fire point test (ASTM D92)
7. Float test
8. Water content test
9. Loss on heating test

Penetration test
• It measures the hardness or softness of bitumen by
measuring the depth in tenths of a millimeter to
which a standard loaded needle will penetrate
vertically in 5 seconds.

• The penetrometer consists of a needle assembly with

a total weight of 100g and a device for releasing and
locking in any position.

• The test should be conducted at a specified

temperature of 25 Degree Centigrade.

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Penetration test

Ductility Test
• Ductility is the property of bitumen that permits it
to undergo great deformation or elongation.

• Ductility is defined as the distance in cm, to which

a standard sample or briquette of the material will
be elongated without breaking.

• The bitumen sample is heated and poured in the

mould assembly placed on a plate.

• These samples with moulds are cooled in the air

and then in water bath at 27o C temperature.

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Ductility Test
• Then the mould with assembly containing
sample is kept in water bath of the ductility
machine for about 90 minutes.

• The sides of the moulds are removed, the clips

are hooked on the machine and the machine is
operated.

• The distance up to the point of breaking of

thread is the ductility value which is reported
in cm.

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Softening Point Test

• Softening point denotes the temperature at which the bitumen
attains a particular degree of softening under the specifications
of test.

• The test is conducted by using Ring and Ball apparatus. A brass

ring containing test sample of bitumen is suspended in liquid like
water or glycerin at a given temperature.

• A steel ball is placed upon the bitumen sample and the liquid
medium is heated at a rate of 5o C per minute.

• Temperature is noted when the softened bitumen touches the

metal plate which is at a specified distance below.

• Generally, higher softening point indicates lower temperature

susceptibility and is preferred in hot climates.

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Specific Gravity Test

• The specific gravity of bitumen is defined as the
ratio of mass of given volume of bitumen of
known content to the mass of equal volume of
water at 27o C.

• The specific gravity can be measured using

either pycnometer or preparing a cube specimen
of bitumen in semi solid or solid state.

• The specific gravity of bitumen varies from

0.97-1.02.

Viscosity Test
• Orifice type viscometers are used to
indirectly find the viscosity of liquid
binders like cutbacks and emulsions.

• The viscosity expressed in seconds is

the time taken by the 50 ml bitumen
material to pass through the orifice,
under standard test conditions and
specified temperature.

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Viscosity Test

Flash and Fire Point Test

• At high temperatures depending upon the grades of bitumen
materials leave out volatiles. And these volatiles catches fire
which is very hazardous and therefore it is essential to qualify
this temperature for each bitumen grade.

• Flash point is the temperature at which the vapour of bitumen

momentarily catches fire in the form of flash under specified
test conditions.

• The fire point is defined as the lowest temperature under

specified test conditions at which the bituminous material gets
ignited and burns.

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Flash and Fire Point Test

Properties of 40/50 grade

Bitumen

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Properties of 60/70 grade

Bitumen

Properties of 80/100 grade

Bitumen

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