Bitumen Applications. 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 coloured 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, wood, or petroleum and are temperature sensitive than bitumen. Bitumen will be dissolved in petroleum oils where unlike tar.
Nowadays, there are 4 forms of bitumen:
1.Cutback bitumen
2.Bitumen Emulsion
3.Bituminous primers
4. Modified Bitumen
Cutback bitumen
Normal practice is to heat bitumen to reduce its viscosity. In some situations preference is given to use liquid binders such as cutback bitumen. In cutback bitumen suitable solvent is used to lower the viscosity of the bitumen. From the environmental point of view also cut-back bitumen is preferred. The solvent from the bituminous material will evaporate and the bitumen will bind the aggregate. Cutback bitumen is used for cold weather bituminous road construction and maintenance. The distillates used for preparation of cutback bitumen are naphtha, kerosene, diesel oil, and furnace oil. There are different types of cutback bitumen like rapid curing (RC), medium curing (MC), and slow curing (SC). RC is recommended for surface dressing and patchwork. MC is recommended for premix with less quantity of fine aggregates. SC is used for premix with appreciable quantity of fine aggregates.
Bitumen Emulsion
Bitumen emulsion is a liquid product in which bitumen is suspended in a finely divided condition in an aqueous medium and stabilised by suitable material. Normally cationic type emulsions are used in India. The bitumen content in the emulsion is around 60% and the remaining is water. When the emulsion is applied on the road it breaks down resulting in release of water and the mix starts to set. The time of setting depends upon the grade of bitumen. Bitumen emulsions are ideal binders for hill road construction. Where heating of bitumen or aggregates are difficult. Rapid setting emulsions are used for surface dressing work. Medium setting emulsions are p referred for premix jobs and patch repairs work. Slow setting emulsions are preferred in rainy season.
Bituminous primers
In bituminous primer the distillate is absorbed by the road surface on which it is spread. The absorption therefore depends on the porosity of the surface. Bitumen primers are useful on the stabilised surfaces and water bound macadam base courses. Bituminous primers are generally prepared on road sites by mixing penetration bitumen with petroleum distillate.
Modified Bitumen
Certain additives or blend of additives called as bitumen modifiers can improve properties of Bitumen and bituminous mixes. Bitumen treated with these modifiers is known as modified bitumen. Polymer modified bitumen (PMB)/ crumb rubber modified bitumen (CRMB) should be used only in wearing course depending upon the requirements of extreme climatic variations. The detailed specifications for modified bitumen have been issued by IRC: SP: 53-1999. It must be noted that the performance of PMB and CRMB is dependent on strict control on temperature during construction. The advantages of using modified bitumen are as follows Lower susceptibility to daily and seasonal temperature variations
- Higher resistance to deformation at high pavement temperature
- Better age resistance properties
- Higher fatigue life for mixes
- Better adhesion between aggregates and binder
- Prevention of cracking and reflective cracking
In turn, road construction bitumens can be liquid and viscous. Bitumen of the first type are used in surface treatment of road, saturation of gravel to make asphalt and bitumen mineral mix. Bitumen of the second type function is binder in construction of road top and other road construction operations, production of cold mix asphalt, surface treatment of gravel roads and gravel road tops.
In our days bitumen is widely used in construction, agriculture, industry and for protection from radiation. One of the main applications of this material is the construction of roads, structures, airports and residential buildings.
