We provide all types of bitumen grades and manufacture a wide range of by-products such as cut-backs, emulsions and polymer modified bitumen complying with international standards. Meeting client requirements is our priority.
We provide all types of bitumen grades and manufacture a wide range of by-products such as cut-backs, emulsions and polymer modified bitumen complying with international standards. Meeting client requirements is our priority.
We supply a large variety of bitumen products, from standard to premium quality, as well as special grades, for any road application.
Penetration grade bitumen is considered to be standard bitumen. Used as paving grade bitumen, it is an essential material in road construction, production of asphalt pavements and hot mix asphalt. Penetration grade bitumen is usually manufactured in refineries from fractional or vacuum distillation of crude oil and produced to meet a variety of specifications.
The classification for penetration grade bitumen is based on penetration tests (EN 1426 and EN 1427) which characterize the bitumen consistency, hardness, and stiffness at ambient temperature. The specifications usually define a penetration interval, for example 50/70 grade bitumen means that the penetration at 25 ° C lies between 50 and 70 tenths of a mm.
More generally, penetration grade bitumen ranges between 10 and 450. Rubis Asphalt offers a range of penetration grade bitumen from 10 to 70, we also have the expertise to manufacture in-house penetration grade bitumen for special penetration grade requests. Penetration grade bitumen is widely used for the production of emulsions, polymer modified bitumen and cutback.
Viscosity grade bitumen, (known as VG bitumen), is used in road construction for surface coating applications and the production of hot mix asphalt. The VG specification system was initially introduced in the US during the 1960’s to assess bitumen’s performance at high temperatures.
Viscosity grades are specified in the standards ASTM D3381-09 and AASHTO M226-80. For example, bitumen classified AC20 is a bitumen whose viscosity (degree of fluidity) is equal to 2000 Poise at 60°C.
Viscosity tests are conducted according to two methods of grading:
– Conventional bitumen (AC-Grades): the viscosity of the standard bitumen is measured at 60°C (140 °F) and 135°C (275 °F)
– Aged bitumen (AR-Grades): the viscosity of bitumen is measured at 60 °C (140 °F) after the Roll on Thin Film Oven Test (RTFOT)
For both methods the penetration at 25°C (annual average pavement temperature) is also retained as a specifications’ criteria.
Rubis Asphalt offers a range of AC Grade Bitumen from AC-10 to AC-40. We have also the expertise to manufacture in-house AC grade bitumen for special requests.
Performance grade bitumen, (designated by the letters PG), is the most recent standard of bitumen. It has been established to define the performance of bitumen according to a complete set of specifications combining climate, traffic, and ageing. The binder is chosen according to the climate where the pavement will be installed, taking into account the highest and lowest temperatures.
Tests are carried out in order to respond to specific types of pavement degradation such as rutting, fatigue cracking, and cracking at low temperature. Traffic is taken into account by adjusting the class towards a more rigid material for high traffic volume or heavy loadings. Performance Grade Bitumen is defined by AASHTO M320-05 standards, three tests are carried out:
– The Dynamic Shear Rheometer (DSR) to characterize the bitumen at high and intermediate pavement temperatures.
– The Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR) to measure the properties at expected minimum pavement temperatures.
– The direct tension tester (DTT) to measure the stiffness and stress relaxation properties of asphalt binders at low temperature.
Polymer modified bitumen is predominantly used in road construction to meet the requirements of challenging environments such as highways or airport tracks. It is obtained by mixing standard bitumen with polymers to improve bitumen characteristics and performances such as rutting resistance, thermal cracking, fatigue damage, stripping, or temperature susceptibility.
The type of polymer most commonly used for bitumen modification is a co-polymer of polystyrene and polybutadiene, called SBS. Classified as an elastomer and representing 80% of the polymers used in bitumen, SBS provides viscosity and elasticity.
In spite of a higher price compared to standard bitumen, polymer modified bitumen is considered to be more cost effective due to its important benefits:
– Higher durability
– Better resistance to permanent deformation (rutting and shoving)
– Better resistance to crack spreading and stripping
– Excellent fatigue resistance
– Greater water resistance
– Higher rigidity
– Better temperature susceptibility
Rubis Asphalt can produce and supply in-house polymer modified bitumen throughout its bitumen modification plants and use of all types of polymers. Our experience and technological expertise enable us to offer our customers solutions designed for the specific requirements of their individual projects or market needs.
Emulsions, a mixture of bitumen, water, and an emulsifying agent, are used to handle bitumen at a lower temperature and therefore in a safer way. They represents 20% of the world bitumen use, their main applications are: asphalt, micro-coatings, bonding layers, and cold asphalt mixes. Emulsions are defined by the EN 13808 standard. This specification framework describes four characteristics: composition of bitumen, viscosity, emulsion stability and physical characteristics of residual bitumen. There are two different ways to classify bitumen emulsion:
Depending on the type of surface active agent, bitumen emulsions are divided into three categories:
– Anionic Bitumen Emulsion, with negatively charged globules
– Cationic Bitumen Emulsion, with positively charged globules
– Non-ionic with neutral globules
Depending on the speed at which the bitumen particles separate from water when it is applied on the aggregates (setting time), it is divided into three categories:
– Rapid Setting Emulsion (RS)
– Medium Setting Emulsion (MS)
– Slow Setting Emulsion (SS)
Rubis Asphalt provides a full range of bitumen emulsions from slow to medium and rapid setting, anionic or cationic emulsions. Throughout our emulsion units, under carefully controlled conditions and using highly specialized equipment, our talented laboratory technicians produce in-house bit
Cutback is bitumen that is dissolved in a solvent, typically kerosene, naphtha or gasoline, allowing to temporarily decrease the viscosity and increase the penetration. Following the application of a cutback, the solvent evaporates and only the bitumen remains. The main applications of cutback bitumen are prime and tack coating, prime sealing, and spray sealing.
Cutbacks are defined by two elements:
The curing time, according to three categories:
– Rapid-Curing (RC)
– Medium-Curing (MC)
– Slow-Curing (SC)
A number which indicates the minimum kinematic viscosity (fluidity) of the cutback.
Rubis Asphalt cutback bitumen is compliant with ASTM D2026, D2027, D2028, AASHTO M82-75, and AASHTO M92-92 standards. Our depots are equipped with cutback units to allow an in-house production, meeting the specifications of our clients.