Table 3-1: Technical specifications of pure bitumens graded by viscosity at 60°C according to AASHTO M226
Tests on residue from the AASHTO T240 test (1)
AR-10
AR-20
AR-40
AR-80
AR-160
Viscosity at 60°C, poise
1000±250
2000±500
4000±1000
8000±2000
16000±4000
Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, minimum
140
200
275
400
550
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 seconds, minimum
65
40
25
20
20
Percent of original penetration at 25°C, minimum
–
40
45
50
52
Ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min, cm, minimum
100 (2)
100 (2)
75
75
75
Tests on original bitumen
Flash point, Cleveland open cup, °C, minimum
205
219
227
232
238
Solubility in trichloroethylene, %, minimum
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
(1) AASHTO T179 (thin film oven test) may be used, but AASHTO T240 (rolling thin film oven test) shall be the referee method.
(2) If the ductility is less than 100, the material will be accepted if its ductility at 15.6°C is at least 100.
Table 4-1: Technical specifications of pure bitumens graded by viscosity at 60°C according to ASTM D3381
Test
AC-2.5
AC-5
AC-10
AC-20
AC-40
Viscosity at 60°C, poise
250±50
500±100
1000±200
2000±400
4000±800
Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, minimum
80
110
150
210
300
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 seconds, minimum
200
120
70
40
20
Flash point, Cleveland open cup, °C, minimum
163
177
219
232
232
Solubility in trichloroethylene, %, minimum
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
Tests on residue from the thin film oven test
Viscosity at 60°C, poise, maximum
1250
2500
5000
10000
20000
Ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min, cm, minimum
100 (1)
100
50
20
10
(1) If the ductility at 25°C is less than 100 cm, the material is acceptable provided its ductility at 15.6°C is at least 100 cm at a pull rate of 5 cm/min.
Table 5-1: Technical specifications of pure bitumens graded by viscosity at 60°C according to ASTM D3381
Test
AC-2.5
AC-5
AC-10
AC-20
AC-30
AC-40
Viscosity at 60°C, poise
250±50
500±100
1000±200
2000±400
3000±600
4000±800
Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, minimum
125
175
250
300
350
400
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 seconds, minimum
220
140
80
60
50
40
Flash point, Cleveland open cup, °C, minimum
163
177
219
232
232
232
Solubility in trichloroethylene, %, minimum
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
Tests on residue from the thin film oven test
Viscosity at 60°C, poise, maximum
1250
2500
5000
10000
15000
20000
Ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min, cm, minimum
100 (1)
100
75
50
20
10
(1) If the ductility at 25°C is less than 100 cm, the material is acceptable provided its ductility at 15.6°C is at least 100 cm at a pull rate of 5 cm/min.
Table 6-1: Technical specifications of pure bitumens graded by viscosity at 60°C according to ASTM D3381
Tests on residue from the thin film oven test (1)
AR-1000
AR-2000
AR-4000
AR-8000
AR-16000
Viscosity at 60°C, poise
1000±250
2000±500
4000±1000
8000±2000
16000±4000
Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, minimum
140
200
275
400
550
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 seconds, minimum
65
40
25
20
20
Percent of original penetration at 25°C, minimum
–
40
45
50
52
Ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min, cm, minimum
100 (1)
100 (2)
75
75
75
Tests on original bitumen
Flash point, Cleveland open cup, °C, minimum
205
219
227
232
238
Solubility in trichloroethylene, %, minimum
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
(1) The thin film oven test may be used in the test, but the rolling thin film oven test shall be used as the referee method.
(2) If the ductility at 25°C is less than 100 cm, the material is acceptable provided its ductility at 15.6°C is at least 100 cm at a pull rate of 5 cm/min.
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.
Jumbo bags: cage, framed and self standing
Property
Cage jumbo bag
Framed jumbo bag
Self standing jumbo bag
Weight
1000-1300 kg
1000-1300 kg
1000-1300 kg
Material of outer bag
3-PLY PP fabric
3-PLY PP fabric
3-PLY PP fabric
Material of inner bag
Special purpose film
Special purpose film
Special purpose film
Storage Time
Up 12 month
Up 12 month
Up 12 month
Heating Requirement
No
No
No
Other spec
Resistant against rain
Resistant against rain
Resistant against rain
Other spec
Resistant against ultraviolet radiation
Resistant against ultraviolet radiation
Resistant against ultraviolet radiation
300 kg bitubag
Property
Quantity
Unit
Weight
300-1000
kg
Material of outer bag
3-PLY PP fabric
Material of inner bag
Special purpose film
Storage Time
Up 12 month
Heating Requirement
No
Other spec
Resistant against rain
Bitubag packing is widely used for bitumen sent to cold regions. Bitubags are self standing and are carried in 20 ft containers or by other methods.
The bags hold 300 to 1000 kg and are resistant to rain and ultraviolet radiation. A bitubag is lifted easily by forklift from the loops at the top of the bag.
The bitumen is cooled to the required temperature in the cooling and packing unit (CPU) before filling. A 20 ft container carries 20 bitubags of 1000 kg.
Bitubags travel by sea, by road or by rail in containers. They can be stored in any accessible place for long periods, up to a maximum of 2 years.
Bitoplast (meltable poly bag) specification
Property
Quantity
Unit
Net Filling Capacity
40
kg
Package Height
90
cm
Package Wide
43
cm
Trailer: 500 to 600 bags without pallets, 450 bags palletised.
20 ft container: 500 bags without pallets, 430 bags palletised.
40 ft container: 600 bags without pallets, 490 to 500 bags palletised.
Overview
Viscosity grades are classified by absolute viscosity at 60°C, which describes how the binder behaves on a hot summer road better than penetration alone. VG-30 is the common paving grade; VG-40 is chosen for heavily loaded and very hot pavements; VG-10 for spraying and cold regions.
The table is a selection guide. The agreed specification, edition and certificate of analysis for your lot determine acceptance.
Grade
Absolute viscosity at 60°C (Poise), minimum
Kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt), minimum
VG-10
800
250
VG-20
1,600
300
VG-30
2,400
350
VG-40
3,200
400
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.
Viscosity grades: technical specification
Limits of IS 73:2013. Tests marked "after thin film oven" are made on the residue of the thin film oven test. Viscosity graded asphalt to ASTM D3381 and AASHTO M 226 follows in the AC and AR tables below.
Test
Method
VG-10
VG-20
VG-30
VG-40
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 s (0.1 mm)
IS 1203
80 min
60 min
45 min
35 min
Absolute viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
IS 1206 Part 2
800 to 1,200
1,600 to 2,400
2,400 to 3,600
3,200 to 4,800
Kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt)
IS 1206 Part 3
250 min
300 min
350 min
400 min
Flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C)
IS 1448 P:69
220 min
220 min
220 min
220 min
Solubility in trichloroethylene (% wt)
IS 1216
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
99.0 min
Softening point, ring and ball (°C)
IS 1205
40 min
45 min
47 min
50 min
After thin film oven: viscosity ratio at 60°C
IS 1206 Part 2
4.0 max
4.0 max
4.0 max
4.0 max
After thin film oven: ductility at 25°C (cm)
IS 1208
75 min
50 min
40 min
25 min
AC grades: AASHTO M 226, viscosity graded at 60°C
Requirements for asphalt cement graded by viscosity at 60°C. Tests marked "thin film oven residue" are made on the residue of the thin film oven test.
Test
Method
AC-2.5
AC-5
AC-10
AC-20
AC-30
AC-40
Viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
250 ± 50
500 ± 100
1,000 ± 200
2,000 ± 400
3,000 ± 600
4,000 ± 800
Kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt), min
ASTM D2170
125
175
250
300
350
400
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 s (0.1 mm), min
ASTM D5
220
140
80
60
50
40
Flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C), min
ASTM D92
163
177
219
232
232
232
Solubility in trichloroethylene (%), min
ASTM D2042
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
Thin film oven residue: loss on heating (%), max
ASTM D1754
n/a
1.0
0.5
0.5
0.5
0.5
Thin film oven residue: viscosity at 60°C (Poise), max
ASTM D2171
1,000
2,000
4,000
8,000
12,000
16,000
Thin film oven residue: ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min (cm), min
ASTM D113
100 (1)
100
75
50
40
25
Spot test, when specified: standard naphtha solvent
AASHTO T 102
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Spot test, when specified: naphtha xylene solvent, % xylene
AASHTO T 102
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Spot test, when specified: heptane xylene solvent, % xylene
AASHTO T 102
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
Negative
(1) If the ductility is less than 100 cm, the material is accepted if its ductility at 15.6°C is 100 cm minimum at 5 cm/min.
AC grades: ASTM D3381, Table 1
Asphalt cement graded by viscosity at 60°C, five grade set.
Test
Method
AC-2.5
AC-5
AC-10
AC-20
AC-40
Viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
250 ± 50
500 ± 100
1,000 ± 200
2,000 ± 400
4,000 ± 800
Kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt), min
ASTM D2170
80
110
150
210
300
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 s (0.1 mm), min
ASTM D5
200
120
70
40
20
Flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C), min
ASTM D92
163
177
219
232
232
Solubility in trichloroethylene (%), min
ASTM D2042
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
Thin film oven residue: viscosity at 60°C (Poise), max
ASTM D2171
1,250
2,500
5,000
10,000
20,000
Thin film oven residue: ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min (cm), min
ASTM D113
100 (1)
100
50
20
10
(1) If the ductility is less than 100 cm, the material is accepted if its ductility at 15.6°C is 100 cm minimum at 5 cm/min.
AC grades: ASTM D3381, Table 2
Asphalt cement graded by viscosity at 60°C, six grade set.
Test
Method
AC-2.5
AC-5
AC-10
AC-20
AC-30
AC-40
Viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
250 ± 50
500 ± 100
1,000 ± 200
2,000 ± 400
3,000 ± 600
4,000 ± 800
Kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt), min
ASTM D2170
125
175
250
300
350
400
Penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 s (0.1 mm), min
ASTM D5
220
140
80
60
50
40
Flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C), min
ASTM D92
163
177
219
232
232
232
Solubility in trichloroethylene (%), min
ASTM D2042
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
Thin film oven residue: viscosity at 60°C (Poise), max
ASTM D2171
1,250
2,500
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
Thin film oven residue: ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min (cm), min
ASTM D113
100 (1)
100
75
50
20
10
(1) If the ductility is less than 100 cm, the material is accepted if its ductility at 15.6°C is 100 cm minimum at 5 cm/min.
AR grades: AASHTO M 226 and ASTM D3381, Table 3
Asphalt graded by viscosity of the aged residue at 60°C. AASHTO M 226 names the grades AR-10 to AR-160; ASTM D3381 names the same grades AR-1000 to AR-16000.
Test
Method
AR-10 / AR-1000
AR-20 / AR-2000
AR-40 / AR-4000
AR-80 / AR-8000
AR-160 / AR-16000
Rolling thin film oven residue (1): viscosity at 60°C (Poise)
ASTM D2171
1,000 ± 250
2,000 ± 500
4,000 ± 1,000
8,000 ± 2,000
16,000 ± 4,000
Rolling thin film oven residue (1): kinematic viscosity at 135°C (cSt), min
ASTM D2170
140
200
275
400
550
Rolling thin film oven residue (1): penetration at 25°C, 100 g, 5 s (0.1 mm), min
ASTM D5
65
40
25
20
20
Rolling thin film oven residue (1): retained penetration at 25°C (% of original), min
ASTM D5
n/a
40
45
50
52
Rolling thin film oven residue (1): ductility at 25°C, 5 cm/min (cm), min
ASTM D113
100 (2)
100 (2)
75
75
75
Original asphalt: flash point, Cleveland open cup (°C), min
ASTM D92
205
219
227
232
238
Original asphalt: solubility in trichloroethylene (%), min
ASTM D2042
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
99.0
(1) The thin film oven test (AASHTO T 179) may be used as a comparison method, but the rolling thin film oven test (AASHTO T 240) is the referee method.
(2) If the ductility is less than 100 cm, the material is accepted if its ductility at 15.6°C is 100 cm minimum at 5 cm/min.
Absolute viscosity at 60°C and kinematic viscosity at 135°C
Penetration, softening point, flash point and solubility
Viscosity ratio and ductility of aged residue under the agreed edition of IS 73
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
Representative packaging imageBags
Jumbo bags
Bitumen cast in polypropylene jumbo bags in three styles: steel cage, palletised frame and self standing. Smaller bitubags of 300 kg to 1 tonne are widely used for export to cold regions. Bags stand on their own, lift by forklift from the top loops and ship in 20 ft and 40 ft containers by sea, road or rail.
1 metric tonne, 500 kg or 300 kg formats
Pallet or steel cage on request
Melts down in the plant’s own tank
Up to about 20 t carried cold in a 20 ft container
Specification
Weight per bag
1,000 to 1,300 kg jumbo bag, 300 to 1,000 kg bitubag
Outer bag
3 ply PP fabric
Inner bag
Special purpose film
Storage time
Up to 12 months
Heating during storage and transport
Not required
Other
Resistant to rain and to ultraviolet radiation
Representative packaging imagePoly cube
Poly cube
Compact polymer packing for bitumen, selected to suit your unloading and melting equipment.
1 metric tonne, 500 kg or 300 kg formats
Handling and pallet arrangement agreed with your order
Grade and packing compatibility confirmed before loading
Representative packaging imagePoly bag
Poly bags (bitoplast)
Meltable polymer bags for compatible bitumen grades. The bag melts together with the bitumen, so there is nothing to strip before melting.
40 kg or 50 kg net per bag
Palletisation available on request
Bag material confirmed against the grade and melting process
Specification
Net filling capacity
40 kg (50 kg bags on request)
Package height
90 cm
Package width
43 cm
Loads per unit
Transport
Without pallets
Palletised
Trailer
500 to 600 bags
450 bags
20 ft container
500 bags
430 bags
40 ft container
600 bags
490 to 500 bags
Representative packaging imageHeated
Bitutainers
Insulated, heatable ISO tanks for bitumen. The binder arrives liquid and pumps straight into your tank.
Heated and insulated
No packing waste
Suits steady plant demand
Representative packaging imageBulk
Bulk vessel
Heated bitumen tankers for large volumes into terminals with heated storage.
Large project volumes
Heated tanker to heated terminal
Lowest packing cost per tonne
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.
