It is known to use bituminous compositions as pavings and coverings for a variety of surfaces, for example, roads and air fields. Such compositions comprise mixtures of aggregate and bitumen in specific proportions, and are generally laid and compacted while hot to provide a dense and durable surface. For many applications, bitumen provides a sufficiently durable and adhesive binder for the aggregate. For high load applications, however, additives may be added to the oxidized bitumen 85/40 in order to improve its mechanical properties. Various additives have been proposed for this purpose, including polymers such as ethylene and vinyl acetate co-polymers, random or block copolymers of styrene and conjugated dienes.

Modifying of bitumen 85-40

In Europe, bitumens and polymer modified bitumens for asphalts are manufactured to three standards  covering penetration and viscosity grade bitumens, covering hard paving grade bitumens, covering polymer modified bitumens (pmbs). Bitumens for industrial uses are specified by, covering oxidized bitumen 85/40 , covering hard industrial oxidized bitumens 85/40. The key feature of all of these specifications is a combination of penetration and softening point and, in the case of the soft bitumen grades, viscosity. These properties are generally used to designate the bitumen grade required by the purchaser. Cut-back and fluxed bitumens are bitumens blended with more or less volatile hydrocarbon components (fuels), mainly kerosene. They are characterised by a viscosity specification, EN 15322:2013 (BSI, 2013) providing the framework for such products. While such products remain popular in some parts of the world.

Oxidized bitumen 85-40 quality

Bitumen quality Over many years, Shell has investigated the relationship between laboratory measured properties of penetration grade bitumens and their performance in asphalts on the road. The ability to predict the long term behaviour of asphalts becomes more important as traffic loading has increased and performance requirements have become ever more demanding. Performance on the road depends on many factors, including the design, the nature of the application and the quality of the individual components. In volumetric terms, oxidized bitumen 85/40 is a relatively minor component of an asphalt, but it has a crucial role – acting both as a durable binder and conferring visco-elastic properties on the asphalt. Essentially, satisfactory performance of a bitumen on the road can be ensured if four properties are controlled: Rheology, Cohesion, Adhesion, Durability.

Specification of bitumen 85-40