Bitumen 60\70

Bitumen, which is a mixture of hydrocarbons (carbon and hydrogen compounds) with trace amounts of oxygen, sulfur, and heavy metals, is graded on the following criteria:

•Natural and petroleum origin             

•Hardness or penetration grade: 20/30 to 200/300

•Pure, blown, cutback, emulsion form of production

•Road construction, waterproofing, industrial, modified usage

Bitumen 60/70 is graded on the hardness or penetration basis. 60/70 is the figure which indicates the level of penetration of a standard needle in bitumen at a temperature of 25°C, measured in tenths of a millimeter. In practice, the standard needle penetrates to about 6 to 7 millimeters in 5 seconds. The lower the penetration figure, the harder and tougher the bitumen; the higher the figure, the softer the bitumen. Therefore, Bitumen 60/70 has medium hardness and flexibility, making it the most prevalent to manufacture in asphalt.

Technical Specification of Bitumen 60/70 (approximate):

•Penetration: 60–70 (0.1 mm)

•Softening point: around 48–56 °C

•Viscosity at 135 °C: 350–450 centistokes

•Solubility in trichloroethylene: more than 99%

Application of Bitumen 60/70:

•Due to its suitable resistance and penetration, it is used to manufacture asphalt mixtures for main roads, streets, and high-traffic roads.

•Used in waterproofing and insulation of buildings.

•Used in the production of bitumen emulsion and cutback bitumen.

•Used in the road foundation in moderate and warm climates due to its extreme durability.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Bitumen 60/70

•Its strong bonding with aggregates, climatic change resistance, correct durability on roads, and facility of mixing and applying are considered to be its advantages. However, in extremely cold or hot weather conditions, deformation and cracking are likely, where the harder grade of bitumen is recommended. Additionally, its relatively higher price compared to the other grades is considered a flaw of Bitumen 60/70.

Factors for Selection of the Best Bitumen 60/70:

1.International standard conformity (ASTM / EN / ISIRI):

The bitumen must absolutely be within 60–70 penetration range and must meet technical specifications such as softening point, viscosity, and thermal loss.

2.Materials in raw form (high-grade Vacuum Bottom):

The best quality of bitumen is produced from Vacuum Bottom of good-refining houses.

3.Plant quality control:

Those factories that possess well-equipped laboratories that provide Certificates of Analysis (COA) for each batch provide more reliable bitumen.

4.Low sulfur and impurities:

Good-quality bitumen does not have a bad odor, has low sulfur and light fractions, and does not crack over time.

5.Cosmetic properties: Uniformity and temperature stability:

The ideal Bitumen 60/70 should not be too soft with temperature and should not crack in winter (good thermoplastic behavior).

Packaging and Export Methods of Bitumen 60/70

Bitumen Drums

Bitumen is packaged in steel drums with a nominal diameter of 500 mm and body thickness of 0.5 mm. They are categorized by height and capacity:

•Tall drum: c. 180–200 kg capacity

•Short drum: c. 150–160 kg capacity

Bitumen Jumbo Bags

Bitumen is also exported in bulk through polypropylene jumbo bags that are heat and tear resistant, exportable. The typical forms are:

•300 kg (small, suitable for light packaging)

•500 kg

•1000 kg (1 ton) → most common in the bitumen market and exports

•1300 kg (1.3 tons) → utilized in bulk exports

https://hormozanoil.com/

https://blackgold-bitumen.com/

Countries with the Highest Consumption of Bitumen 60/70

1.Asian countries

•India: Due to its massive construction of the road network and warm to moderate climate, India has the highest consumption of Bitumen 60/70.

•China: The majority of domestic and urban road construction projects utilize Bitumen 60/70.

•Iran: Being among the major producers, Bitumen 60/70 is most reliant on for road and asphalt operations.

•Pakistan and Indonesia: Widely applied to highway and railway development.

•Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait: Bitumen 60/70 is used in roads and airport runways for tropical and semi-tropical climates.

2.African nations

•Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa: Road construction projects primarily use Bitumen 60/70.

3.Latin American nations

•Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina: Due to hot climate and large-scale road construction, the consumption of Bitumen 60/70 is very common.

List of the Leading Bitumen 60/70 Producers in Asia

•Sinopec (China)

•CNPC (China)

•Asia Bitumen (UAE)

•Aramco (Saudi Arabia)

•Saudi Bitumen (Saudi Arabia)

•Jey Oil Refining Co. (Iran)

•Pasargad Oil Refining Co. (Iran)

•Hormozan Oil (Iran)

•Black Gold (Iran)

•SEBCO (Iran)

•Ghiran Pakhsh (Iran)

•Akam (Iran)

•Shimi Tejarat Naghshe Jahan (Iran)

•Phoenix (Iraq)

•Majd Al-Iraq (Iraq)

References:

https://www.sinopecgroup.com/group/en/

http://www.bitumenmag.com/Articles/all-about-bitumen-prices-1