Nanotechnology is the science of the structure of materials at a very small scale. It is now used in most industries, including health, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and polymers.
Since about 90 percent of bitumen is used in road building, nano compounds, used alone or alongside other additives, are applied in the bitumen and asphalt industry around the world, mostly at laboratory and academic scale. Because of the weight share of bitumen in asphalt mixes and the large volume of asphalt in road building, using nano compounds at industrial scale raises the cost considerably and is not economic.
In some special asphalt applications such as bridges and airports, nano materials such as nano fibres and nano lime have occasionally been used to strengthen the asphalt mix; these compounds are added to the aggregate, not to the bitumen. No industrial use of bitumen mixes containing nano compounds has been reported so far; in some special projects nano additives have been added directly to the asphalt mix aggregate.
Various nano compounds have been added to bitumen at laboratory scale, such as clay nanocomposites, calcium nanocarbonate, carbon nanotubes and nanosilica. In the use of nanotechnology in the bitumen industry, these compounds are added to bitumen at very low percentages, in the same way as suitable polymers.
Adding nano compounds at very low percentages to bitumen mostly raises the softening point and viscosity and improves the high temperature performance of the bitumen. As a result, the behaviour of asphalt mixes made with these compounds improves.
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
Nanotechnology works with materials at a very small scale and is used across many industries. In asphalt, nano additives are used alone or with other modifiers, mostly at laboratory and research scale; because pavement mixes use large volumes of bitumen, industrial use is costly. In special projects such as bridges and airports, nano fibres and nano lime have occasionally been added to the mix aggregate rather than the binder. Additives tested in binders include nano clay composites, nano calcium carbonate, carbon nanotubes and nano silica, usually at very low dosages, much like suitable polymers. Small amounts can raise the softening point and viscosity and improve high temperature performance, which improves the behaviour of the asphalt mix.
Nano modified binder is a development inquiry, not a standard stocked grade. The modifier, dispersion method, test plan, performance targets and supply are validated for each project.
The table is a selection guide. The agreed specification, edition and certificate of analysis for your lot determine acceptance.
Product family
Status
Nano modified binder
Technical and commercial feasibility to be confirmed
Certificate of analysis
Certificate of analysis requirements.
Modifier identity and dispersion
Rheology and ageing validation
Mix performance and technical review
Request the grade specific analysis with your quotation. Results, test methods and the applicable specification are confirmed for the supplied lot.
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
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.
On boardFOB
Free on board
Freight paidCFR
Cost and freight
Freight & insuranceCIF
Cost, insurance and freight
Where it goes
Typical applications.
Research and project specific specialty applications
