ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Definition : According to ASTM

ASPHALT – is a dark brown to black cementitious material, solid or semi-

solid in consistency, in which the predominating constituent are bitumen.

Bitumen – are obtained in nature or as a residue in refining petroleum oil.

It is applied to native substances like: petroleum, native asphalts, mineral
waxes, asphaltites in variable colors, hardness and volatility. It is 99%
minimum of asphalt.

B. Composition of Asphalt

1. ASPHALTENE – is responsible for the plastic properties of asphalt and

imparts/contributes hardness into it.

2. PETROLENE – is the substance which is soluble in petroleum solvents.

Resin – imparts ductility and a high breaking point

Oily Constituents – responsible for the softness of asphalt

C. Significant Properties of Asphalt

 Highly Cementitious – where it binds the aggregate and asphalt together

 Readily Adhesive – it has the ability to adhere with the aggregates in the
presence of water
 Waterproof and Durable - it prevents the entrance of water to the
pavement, where the presence of water will cause deterioration.
 Thermoplastic Substance – when mix with aggregates it imparts flexibility
to the pavement.
 Highly Resistant to Chemicals – it has the resistance against the action of
acids, salts and alkalies.

D. Uses of Asphalt

* Binder * As Tack Coat

* Joint/crack filler * As Prime Coat
* Waterproofing * As Seal Coat
* Coating of pipes * Undersealing PCCP

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 II. BITUMINOUS/ASPHALTIC MATERIALS

1. Types of Bituminous Materials

Natural Deposits – are those asphalt formed by natural process of petroleum oil.

 Pure Asphalt/Deposit – like lake asphalts and could only be

found in South America.

 Rock Asphalt – an asphalt that occurs within a porous rock

structure or those asphalt impregnated/embedded in rocks.
The only commercial source in the Philippines is found in
Villaba, Leyte.

Manufactured Asphalt – it is the by-product of petroleum oil.

Asphalt Cement (AC or Hot Asphalt)

Liquid Asphalt

1.2.1.1 Emulsified Asphalt (EA)

1.2.1.2 Cutback Asphalt

Joint Filler/Blown Asphalt

2. Characteristics/Properties/Uses of Manufactured Asphalt

2.1 Asphalt Cement (AC) - is black in color, semi-solid in consistency

Penetration Grade

40 – 50 120 – 150
60 – 70 200 - 300
85 - 100

* Sampling of AC - for every 200 drums, one (1) sample,

equivalent to four (4) liters or one (1)
gallon.

2.2 Liquid Asphalt

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2.2.1 Emulsified Asphalt – it is chocolate brown in
color, liquid at room temperature and has a pungent odor.

* Sampling of EA - for every 200 drum, one (1)

sample equivalent to four (4) liters
or one (1) gallon

* Composition of Emulsified Asphalt

Asphalt Cement - 60%

Water - 40%
Emulsifier - 0.5 to 1.0%

* Two (2) kinds of Emulsified Asphalt

Anionic EA -
it has a negative charge ion
-
it has a lesser cohesion with
aggregates
Cationic EA - it has a positive charge ion
- it has a greater affinity or cohesion
with aggregates
* Classes of Emulsified Asphalt

The rate at which the emulsion breaks in a mixture will be

classified as follows:

Slow Setting (SS) > The basis of classification

Medium Setting (MS) > depends on the rate in
Rapid Setting (RS) > which the emulsion will
break when in contract
with the aggregates

* Ionization - the process that AC is being mixed with

water plus emulsifier

2.2.2. Cutback Asphalt – came from blending of AC

plus solvent.
- black in color, liquid at room
temperature
* Types of Cutback Asphalt

Slow Curing (SC)- AC + road/diesel oil

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 Medium Curing (MC) - AC + kerosene
Rapid Curing (RC) - AC + gasoline or naptha

* Classification According to Grades

MC - 30, 70, 250, 800 and 3000

RC - 70, 250, 800 and 3000

2.3 Joint Filler/Blown Asphalt – solid and very hard at

room temperature, black in color, and odorless

* Joint Filler/Asphalt Sealer could not be used as binder for

pavement but have special uses like: joint/crack
filler/sealer in concrete pavement.
* Penetration Grade Joint Filler are 30-40; 40-50;
50-60 and 60-70.

III. BITUMINOUS/ASPHALT MIX

1. Composition of Bituminous Mix

1.1 Asphalt - 5% - 8%
1.2 Aggregates - 92% to 95%
1.3 Additive - not more than 2%

2. The Three (3) Fractions of Aggregates

2.1 Coarse Aggregate (CA) - aggregate retained at 2.36 mm or No.

8 sieve

2.2 Fine Aggregate (FA) - aggregate passing 2.36 mm or

retained at 0.075 mm. sieve

2.3 Mineral Filler - Passing 0.075 mm or No. 200 sieve

3. Properties of Aggregates

3.1 Hardness - Select aggregate that are strong and tough, in

order to avoid deterioration or breakage during
rolling or traffic. (If not strong, pavement is
unstable and there is degradation)

3.2 Soundness - (synonymous to durability) select aggregate that

could withstand the changing weather or climatic

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 condition. Det. by soundness
3.3 Shape and Surface Texture of Aggregate - prefer crushed aggregate
with rough surface texture and angular in shape
3.4 Absorption - select aggregate that do not absorb so much
water
3.5 Cleanliness - to remove clayey materials because if unclean, it
could not be coated by an asphalt

3.6 Gradation - aggregates should meet the grading specification

4. Quality Tests of Bituminous

4.1 Extraction Test - Determine the amount of percent

asphalt present in a bituminous mix.

4.2 Bulk Specific Gravity - Determine the voids a bituminous mix.

Ideal Gmb = 2.25

4.3 Grading - determine the composition of

aggregate in bituminous mix

4.4 Stability - Determine the compressive strength

of bituminous mix.
Immersion-Compression Stability
Marshall Stability

Flow - measures the plasticity of mix and the diametric distortion

required to produce failure.

5. Properties of Mix

5.1 Stability - resistance to displacement of

compacted bituminous mixture.
5.2 Durability - resistance to disintegration due to the
detrimental effects of traffic, water,
air and temperature changes.
5.3 Flexibility - ability of the pavement to bend
repeatedly without cracking and to
conform to variations of underlying
base.
5.4 Skid Resistance - resistance offered by the pavement to
slipping or skidding of the vehicle tires

5.5 Workability - the ease by which a material can be

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 placed to its desired uniformity and
compacted to a required density.
FORMULAS INVOLVED:

1. % Asphalt Content W1 – W2
By mass of aggregate = W2 x 100

W1 = Mass of sample
W2 = Mass of sample after extraction

wt. in air
2. Bulk, Specific Gravity (Gmb) = wt. in SSD - wt. water

100
3. Max. Specific Gravity (Gmm) = % AC + % Agg.
SG AC SG Agg.

Gmm -
4. % Air Void (AV) = Gmb x 100
Gmm

5. Combined Spec. Gravity (G) P1 + P2 + P3

of Aggregates = P1 P2 P3
G1 + G2 + G3
Where:
P1, P2, P3 = % AC. FA, MF
G1, G2. G3 = Spec. Gravity of CA, FA, MF

6. % Voids in Mineral Agg. (VMA) = 100 - Gmb (% Agg)

SG of Agg. x 100

7. % Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) = VMA – (100 – R)

(R = Gmb / Gmm) VMA

8. Weight of Asphalt Cement

%AC = Wt. AC
Wt. AC+Wt. Agg.

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