Bitumen
Bitumen is a dense, highly sticky hydrocarbon material derived from petroleum, often produced in oil refineries. Visually, standard bitumen is black to very dark brown and has a paste-like consistency. Standard bitumen dissolves completely in chemical solvents such as carbon disulfide and carbon tetrachloride. At ambient temperature, bitumen is solid, but it changes to a paste-like and then liquid state with increasing temperature. Due to its two important properties—water impermeability and high adhesion—standard bitumen has many applications. It consists of 2% oxygen, 11% hydrogen, and 87% carbon. The primary uses of bitumen are in moisture insulation and asphalt production.
Bitumens are generally classified into various categories based on different factors and parameters, and they exhibit high diversity. Petroleum-based bitumens are divided into three main categories:
- Solution Bitumens: such as MC, RC, SC
- Emulsified Bitumens: such as CMS, CRS, CSS
- Pure Bitumens: such as penetration grades like 60-70 and PG bitumens like 30-75
It should be noted that each of these categories has different capabilities and applications, used in various situations. Although different types of bitumens vary in various factors, their most important technical specifications can be summarized as follows:
- Viscosity
- Ductility
- Penetration
- Flash Point
- Softening Point
- Specific Gravity
- Solubility or Purity of Bitumen
- Fraass Breaking Point
- Thin Film Over Test
Key Applications of Natural Bitumen Include:
- Agriculture
- Recycling Industry
- Road and Highway Construction
- Transportation Industry
- Construction Industry
- Fuel Use
- Insulation of Various Equipment
- Coke Production Industry
- Insulation Industries such as Oil and Gas
