Cutback bitumens are made by dissolving pure bitumen in solvents or petroleum oils.
The type and quality of a cutback depend on the quality of the base bitumen and on the type and amount of solvent: the more solvent the cutback contains, the more fluid it is.
Cutbacks are used where hot bitumen causes problems: no access to heating equipment, breakdown of the bitumen at high temperatures, the bitumen cooling during the work, poor penetration into fine mineral material, worker safety, fire risk and lost time. They are used in road building for surface coats (prime and tack), cold mixes and surface treatments, and in some cases are blended at the plant or mixed in place.
Cutbacks are classified by viscosity grade and divided into three groups by curing speed and solvent type.
Cutback bitumens
Rapid curing cutback (RC)
When gasoline is used to dissolve the pure bitumen, the cutback is called rapid curing, because shortly after application the solvent evaporates and the base bitumen remains in place.
Medium curing cutback (MC)
Medium curing cutbacks are made by dissolving pure bitumen in kerosene, which evaporates more slowly and over a longer time than gasoline. The number in the MC designation is the minimum kinematic viscosity in centistokes.
Slow curing cutback (SC)
Slow curing cutbacks are made by dissolving pure bitumen in oils and low volatility petroleum solvents such as gas oil or fuel oil, or can be obtained directly from crude oil distillation like pure bitumens, in which case the solvent oils have not yet separated from them. Full curing of these bitumens takes a long time after application.
Packing data
Steel drum (barrel) specification
Steel drums are widely used for packing bitumen; their size, thickness and capacity must suit the filling equipment. Standard drums have a body plate thickness of 0.6 mm and come in two heights, tall and short, of 89 ± 3 cm and 68 ± 3 cm.
Property
Quantity
Unit
Body Plate Thickness
0.6
mm
Top & Bottom Plate
0.6
mm
Thickness Height
100
cm
Diameter
50±2
cm
Lid Hole Position
Center
Lid Hole Diameter
20
cm
Net Filling Capacity
182.5±2.5
Kg
Empty Drum Weight
9.5±0.2
Kg
Color
Furnace Black
Short drums hold about 150 kg and cost more per tonne than tall drums; in many markets tall drums of 180 kg filling are the most used.
A 20 ft container carries 110 drums without pallets or 80 drums palletised; a 40 ft container carries 137 drums without pallets or 150 drums palletised.
A flatbed truck carries about 115 drums without pallets or 90 drums palletised.
Used drums are not recommended: they do not meet international quality standards, and new drums reduce transport risk.
Overview
Cutback bitumen is penetration grade bitumen dissolved in a petroleum solvent, so it can be sprayed and mixed at lower temperatures. Its properties depend on the type and amount of solvent, which sets how fast it cures. Cutbacks fall into three groups by curing speed and are graded by kinematic viscosity at 60°C. They are used for prime coats, surface treatments and stockpile patching mixes.
The table is a selection guide. The agreed specification, edition and certificate of analysis for your lot determine acceptance.
Grade family
Curing type
Specification
MC-30 / MC-70 / MC-250 / MC-800 / MC-3000
Medium curing
ASTM D2027/D2027M; grade limits by edition
RC-70 / RC-250 / RC-800 / RC-3000
Rapid curing
ASTM D2028/D2028M; grade limits by edition
Specifications
Technical specifications.
Typical limits with the test method for each property. A certificate of analysis is issued for each lot; it and the agreed specification govern acceptance.
Cutback bitumen types
Cutbacks avoid the problems of working with hot bitumen: no heating equipment on site, breakdown of the binder at high temperature, cooling during the work, poor penetration into fine material, and the safety and fire risks of hot work. The three groups differ in solvent, which sets how fast the binder cures.
Type
Solvent
Curing
Typical use
RC: rapid curing
Light, fast evaporating solvent such as naphtha or gasoline
Solvent evaporates shortly after application, leaving the base bitumen in place
Kerosene evaporates more slowly than gasoline, giving a longer working time
Prime coats over granular base, cold mix, patching
SC: slow curing
Low volatility oils such as gas oil or fuel oil, or road oils taken directly from crude oil distillation
Oils separate very slowly, so full curing takes a long time after application
Dust control, road mixes, stockpile patching
MC cutback: specification
Limits of ASTM D2027/D2027M. Distillation fractions are percentages of the total distillate to 360°C.
Test
Method
MC-30
MC-70
MC-250
MC-800
MC-3000
Kinematic viscosity at 60°C (cSt)
ASTM D2170
30 to 60
70 to 140
250 to 500
800 to 1,600
3,000 to 6,000
Flash point, Tag open cup (°C)
ASTM D3143
38 min
38 min
66 min
66 min
66 min
Water (% vol)
ASTM D95
0.2 max
0.2 max
0.2 max
0.2 max
0.2 max
Distillate to 225°C (%)
ASTM D402
25 max
0 to 20
0 to 10
n/a
n/a
Distillate to 260°C (%)
ASTM D402
40 to 70
20 to 60
15 to 55
35 max
15 max
Distillate to 315°C (%)
ASTM D402
75 to 93
65 to 90
60 to 87
45 to 80
15 to 75
Residue from distillation to 360°C (% vol)
ASTM D402
50 min
55 min
67 min
75 min
80 min
Residue: absolute viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
300 to 1,200
300 to 1,200
300 to 1,200
300 to 1,200
300 to 1,200
Residue: ductility at 25°C (cm)
ASTM D113
100 min
100 min
100 min
100 min
100 min
Residue: solubility in trichloroethylene (% wt)
ASTM D2042
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
RC cutback: specification
Limits of ASTM D2028/D2028M. Distillation fractions are percentages of the total distillate to 360°C.
Test
Method
RC-70
RC-250
RC-800
RC-3000
Kinematic viscosity at 60°C (cSt)
ASTM D2170
70 to 140
250 to 500
800 to 1,600
3,000 to 6,000
Flash point, Tag open cup (°C)
ASTM D3143
n/a
27 min
27 min
27 min
Water (% vol)
ASTM D95
0.2 max
0.2 max
0.2 max
0.2 max
Distillate to 190°C (%)
ASTM D402
10 min
n/a
n/a
n/a
Distillate to 225°C (%)
ASTM D402
50 min
35 min
15 min
n/a
Distillate to 260°C (%)
ASTM D402
70 min
60 min
45 min
25 min
Distillate to 315°C (%)
ASTM D402
85 min
80 min
75 min
70 min
Residue from distillation to 360°C (% vol)
ASTM D402
55 min
65 min
75 min
80 min
Residue: absolute viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
600 to 2,400
600 to 2,400
600 to 2,400
600 to 2,400
Residue: ductility at 25°C (cm)
ASTM D113
100 min
100 min
100 min
100 min
Residue: solubility in trichloroethylene (% wt)
ASTM D2042
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
SC cutback: specification
Typical limits of ASTM D2026/D2026M. Confirm the limits against the edition named in your specification.
Test
Method
SC-70
SC-250
SC-800
SC-3000
Kinematic viscosity at 60°C (cSt)
ASTM D2170
70 to 140
250 to 500
800 to 1,600
3,000 to 6,000
Flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C)
ASTM D92
66 min
79 min
93 min
107 min
Water (% vol)
ASTM D95
0.5 max
0.5 max
0.5 max
0.5 max
Total distillate to 360°C (% vol)
ASTM D402
10 to 30
4 to 20
2 to 12
5 max
Asphalt residue of 100 penetration (%)
ASTM D243
50 min
60 min
70 min
80 min
Residue: ductility at 25°C (cm)
ASTM D113
100 min
100 min
100 min
100 min
Solubility in trichloroethylene (% wt)
ASTM D2042
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
Packing
Packing and shipment formats.
The packing system is confirmed against the grade, handling equipment and transport requirements.
Representative packaging imageDrums
New steel drums
Sealed new steel drums, the most flexible way to ship: any quantity, any container, unloaded by forklift at site. Drums come tall or short; tall drums are the more widely used, and short drums cost more per tonne. We do not recommend used drums, which do not meet international quality standards; new drums reduce transport risk.
180 ± 3 kg net / 190 ± 3 kg gross per drum
150 ± 3 kg net / 159 ± 3 kg gross per drum
Stuffed in 20 ft containers
Marked and labelled to your instructions
Specification
Body plate thickness
0.6 mm
Top and bottom plate thickness
0.6 mm
Height
89 ± 3 cm tall drum, 68 ± 3 cm short drum
Diameter
50 ± 2 cm
Lid hole position
Centre
Lid hole diameter
20 cm
Net filling capacity
180 ± 3 kg tall drum, 150 ± 3 kg short drum
Empty drum weight
9.5 ± 0.2 kg
Colour
Furnace black
Loads per unit
Transport
Without pallets
Palletised
20 ft container
110 drums
80 drums
40 ft container
137 drums
150 drums
Flatbed truck
About 115 drums
About 90 drums
Representative packaging imageLiquid
ISO tanks
Insulated ISO tank containers for compatible liquid products, sealed and reusable.
Product and temperature compatibility confirmed
Discharge requirements agreed before loading
Reusable tank
Delivery terms
Export delivery terms.
FOB, CFR and CIF quotations under Incoterms 2020, from UAE ports.
Term
Name
What it covers
Details
FOB
Free on board
We deliver the cargo on board at the UAE port of loading.
Risk passes to you once the cargo is on board the vessel at the UAE port. You book and pay the sea freight and insurance. Best when you already have a freight forwarder or a shipping line contract.
CFR
Cost and freight
We pay the sea freight to your named port.
We book and pay the freight to your destination port. Risk still passes on board at loading, so you arrange cargo insurance. A simple choice when you want one landed freight price without buying our insurance.
CIF
Cost, insurance and freight
Freight and cargo insurance to your named port, both on us.
As CFR, plus we take out cargo insurance for your benefit until the destination port. Often requested by banks under a letter of credit.
