ROAD MATERIALS

Bituminous material
 Bituminous material or asphalt, is a viscous liquid used as binder
for aggregates in road construction. At normal temperature,
asphalt is either slightly thicker than water or hard but brittle
material that breaks under a hammer blow when cold.

1. Bituminous material is in liquid form when mixed or combined

with aggregates.
2. The action of asphalt binder depends on its type and the
aggregate it is combined with. The purpose of the asphalt
binder is to resists the abrasive force brought about by heavy
traffic.
3. If the road pavement is the open type, consisting entirely of
coarse particles and asphalt, heavy binder is needed requiring
more asphalts. On the other hand, if aggregates in the
pavement contain fine particles, cohesion will be developed by
surface tension in the thin asphalt film surrounding the fine
particles. Hence less viscous asphalt is required.
BITUMINOUS BINDERS
Asphalt cement is used as a binder for almost all high types of
bituminous pavement. Asphalt cement is a semi solid hydrocarbon
retained after fuel and lubricating oils are removed from
petroleum. The softest grade used for pavement is the 200-300
penetration. The 60-70 penetrations is the hardest type.

Penetration refers to the consistencies of asphalt cement as

described under AASHTO-T49. It is the distance that a standard
needle penetrates a sample under known conditions of loading
time and temperature. Recently, the procedure used in grading
asphalt is the Viscosity Test rather than Penetration test.
Cutback or liquid asphalt

1. Liquid asphalt is a petroleum product consisting of asphalt

cement with a liquid distillate. The less viscous asphalt
contains diluents as little as 15%

2. The use of cutback is being frowned for two reasons:

- it is a usable fuel
- it is an air pollutant

3. Cutback or liquid asphalt is classified into:

a. slow curing (sc) road soil
b. medium curing (mc) cutback asphalt
c. rapid cooling (rc) cutback asphalt
Emulsified asphalt

is a kind of mixture wherein the minute globules of asphalt

disperses in water. Asphalt content ranges from 55% -70% by
weight. Emulsion could be applied or mixed at normal temperature,
because when the water content evaporates, the asphalt remains.

Characteristics of Emulsified asphalt

1. Emulsified asphalt is excellent with wet aggregate because the

water medium carries the asphalt into a superior contact with
the particle surfaces.

2. Emulsified asphalt is an alternate to cutback asphalt for energy

and environmental objectives
3. The Cationic Emulsion is very effective on high siliceous
aggregates but may strip from high alkaline that carry strong
positive surface changes.

4. Rejuvenatinng agennt is an emulsified petroleum resin

sprayed over the surface of an old asphalt road that changes
to asphaltenes causing the binder to harden and cracks.
Oxidized Asphalt and Road Tar

is suitable only for roofing and similar applications. Road tar

is a by product of the distillation process of coal. Tars are
produced from gas house coal tar, cook oven tars and water gas
tar.

The DPWH specifications classify Bituminous tack under item 302

which provides that:
1. Bituminous material shall be either rapid curing cutback, or
Emulsified asphalt
2. Tack coat shall be applied only to dry surfaces or slightly
moist.
3. Immediate prior to the application of tack coat, the road
surface is lightly sprayed with water, but not to be saturated.
4. The rate of application of either the rapid curing, cut back or
Emulsified asphalt is within the range of 0.2 to 0.7 liter per square
meter.

5. Tack coat shall be sprayed only as far in advance on the surface

coarse as will permit it to dry in a tacky condition. Traffic shall be
kept off the Tack coat until after fully dried.
Bitumen-Rubber mixture

the bitumen rubber mixture for road pavement was

experimented in Holland in the year 1929. It was adopted in
united states in 1947 and later, in European countries.

The assessment of roads states that:

1. Very little improvement gained as far as coefficient of friction

on newly laid pavement but expect higher advantages after six
months. The analysis of the bureau of public roads states that:
“an appraisal of the real economic value of the addition of rubber to asphalt
must wait on further observation of the behavior of experimental
pavements under the influence of age, weather and traffic.”

2. According to the report, powdered rubber foams added to

bitumen has improved the stability of some but not all.
Epoxy Resin as Binders

Epoxy binders are produced in a clear, dark, rigid and flexible

form for application to eiher concrete or asphalt pavement.
Hardening can be attained by mixing the resin and the catalyst
hardener prior to application. The result is called Thermosetting.
Meaning, it will not soften under the influence of heat or the
action of solvent like water or petroleum products.

Test for Bituminous Binders

1. Test of consistency is subdivided into:
a. Kinematics Viscosity Test
b. Saybolt-fural Test
c. Engler Specific Gravity Test
d. The Float Test
e.. Penetration Test
f. Softening Point Test
2. Test for durability
3. Test for solubility
4. Distillation test
5. Thin film oven test
6. Flashpoint
7. Test for homogeneity of petroleum asphalt
8. Special test for emulsion asphalt
a. Test for demulsibility
b. Test for settlement
c. Sieve Test
d. Cement mixing test
e. Particle charge and PH tests
f. Miscibility and freezing test
PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH BITUMINOUS BINDERS

1. The thickness of asphalt film in the pavement, ranges from .005

to .010 mm. Test result showed that the thicker the asphalt film,
the lesser is the process of aging.
2. Mixtures that are too dry, cracks and breaks easily.
3. Higher asphalt content and lower percentage of voids may cause
instability of the pavement.
4. Improper construction procedures can age asphalt prematurely.
5. Storing the mixed materials, or an extended period of mixing, the
temperature produces substantial reduction of asphalt
penetration.
6. Climatic condition can seriously affect the behavior of asphalt
binders
7. Different brand or source has variability in behavior
8. An asphalt meeting a specified penetration requirement at 77
degree farenheit but with high viscosity temperature ratio will
become hard and brittle at lower temperature.
BITUMINOUS PAVEMENT

The bituminous pavement is a combination of mineral

aggregates and binders. The mixture of rock material particles
with asphalt has created so many names to wit:

1. Asphalt macadam
2. Asphaltic concrete
3. Mastic
4. National Paving
5. Plant mix
6. Asphalt sheet
7. Road mix
8. Armor Coat
9. Oil mat etc.
Asphalt road is virtually a bituminous road
Qualities of Asphalt Road

1. The surface must be free from cracks or raveling due to

shrinkage and fatigue failure.
2. It must be withstand weather condition, including the
effect of surface water, heat, cold and oxidation.
3. It must be resistant to internal moisture such as water
vapor
4. It must posses a tight or porous impermeable surface as
the case may be suitable to underlying base on sub-base
5. It must be smooth riding and skid free surface.
A satisfactory asphalt pavement could be attained under the
following construction procedures:

1. Viscous asphalt binder is heated to a fluid condition and

mixed with heated aggregates. The mixture is then laid and
compacted while still hot.

2. Mixing liquid or emulsion asphalt with aggregates at normal

temperature is either by plant or road mixing.

3. Spread and compact the clean crushed stones, sprayed with

heated or emulsified asphalt over it. Cover the sprayed
pavement with fine aggregate. This process is referred to as
the “Penetration Method”