Chapter 5

Bitumen

CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS

☞ Introduction

InTrODUcTiOn Bitumen helps in binding surface particles

Bitumen is the binding material which is present in asphalt.

It is also called ‘mineral tar’. It is insoluble in water, but Binding effect
dissolves completely in carbon disulphide, chloroform,
benzol, etc.
Bitumen = 87% carbon + 11% hydrogen + 2% oxygen Sealing of Functions of Cushion
surface Bituminous materials.
Bitumen is in very finely divided state and
Bitumen
it is suspended in aqueous medium with
emulsion
the help of stabilizing agents.
It is obtained by passing air under pressure
When used with Resistance to It acts as cushioning
Blown at higher temperature. It is used as roofing dense granular weathering agencies material on the
bitumen and damp-proofing felts in pipes. material, it seals surface and absorbs
It is obtained by fluxing asphaltic bitumen in surface of road impact, friction etc.
Forms of Cutback presence of suitable liquid distillates of coal against ingress
Bitumen bitumen tar (or) petrol. of water. The surface can
resist effectively
It consists of bitumen thinner and a suitable
Plastic inert filler. Quantity of filler is 40% to 45%. It the actions of
bitumen is used for filling cracks in masonry weathering agencies
structures. like, sun etc.
Straight run When bitumen is being distilled to definite
bitumen viscosity (or) penetration without further
treatment, it is known as the straight run
bitumen.

Part III_Unit 4_Chapter 05.indd 1 5/18/2017 10:22:19 PM

 Chapter 5 ■ Bitumen | 3.285

Float
Tests for bituminous materials
Bituminous material

Ductility test
Flash and fire point test
Float test
Loss on heating test
Penetration test Water at 50°C Water at 50°C
Softening point test
Solubility test
Specific gravity test 4. Loss on heating test: The bitumen when heated, the
Spot test
volatiles present in it are evaporated and the bitumen
becomes hard. The bitumen to be used in pavement
Viscocity test
mix should not indicate more than 1% loss in weight
Water content test on heating.
1. Ductility test: The sample is cast in a briquette mould 5. Penetration test: The penetration test is used to find
whose cross-section at the minimum width is 10 mm the hardness or softness of bitumen used in road
× 10 mm. The test is conducted at a temperature of construction by measuring the distance in tenths of
27°C ± 0.5°C at a rate of pull of 50 mm ± 2.5mm per millimetre to which a standard needle will penetrate
minute. Ductility is the value which is expressed as the vertically into the sample of bitumen under conditions
distance in centimetres to which a standard briquette of temperature.
of bitumen can be stretched before the thread breaks.
Penetration
Bitumen
Weight
Ductility value Weight
in mm
Start Needle
Bitumen Needle

Bitumen Bitumen
Point of break Start After 5 seconds

Concept of penetration test

End
The grade of bitumen is specified in terms of
Ductility test penetration value. 80/100 range of penetration value
means penetration ranging from 80–100. For hot
Ductility varies from 0.5–100, where bitumen with climates, bitumen grades of low penetration are
ductility > 50 is good bitumen. preferred, and for cold climates higher penetration
2. Flash and fire point test: grades of bitumen are preferred.
(a) The flash point is the lowest temperature at which 6. Softening point test: As the temperature of the material
the vapour of a substance momentarily takes fire rises, there is a gradual and imperceptible change from a
in the form of flash under conditions of rest. brittle or exceedingly thick and slow-flowing condition
(b) The fire point is the lowest temperature at to a softer and less viscous state. Softening point of
which the material gets ignited and burns under bitumen is usually determined by ring and ball test.
specified conditions of rest. 7. Solubility test: Pure bitumen is completely soluble
3. Float test: This test is used to find the consistency in solvents like carbon disulphide or carbon
of the bituminous material. It is helpful when the tetrachloride. A known weight of the sample is taken
material has consistency range which cannot be and dissolved in excess quantity of solvent. Then
effectively defined either by orifice viscometer test or the solution is filtered for removal of the probable
penetration test. A float of aluminium is filled with insoluble materials.
specimen material and is allowed to float. The time 8. Specific gravity test: The specific gravity of bitumen
required for the water to force its way through the is the ratio of mass of given volume of substance to
bitumen plug is noted and is indicated as float value. the mass of equal volume of water.

Part III_Unit 4_Chapter 05.indd 2 5/18/2017 10:22:20 PM

 3.286 | Part III ■ Unit 4 ■ Construction Materials and Management

The specific gravity is found by: 9. Spot test: It is done for detecting overheated (or)
(a) Pycnometer method: cracked bitumen. A 2 g of bitumen is dissolved in
( c − a) 10 ml of naptha. A drop of solution is taken out
Specific gravity = after one hour, and it is placed on a filter paper.
( b − a) − ( d − c )
A second drop of solution is taken out after 24 hours,
Where and it is placed on a filter paper. If the spots on the
  a = Weight of empty bottle filter paper are of uniform colour, the bitumen is
  b = Weight of bottle filled with distilled water treated as uncracked, otherwise it is called ‘cracked
bitumen’.
  c = Weight of bottle half filled with material
10. Viscosity test: The resistance to flow by liquid is
  d = Weight of bottle half filled with material
known as viscosity, and it is thus the inverse of
and rest filled with distilled water
fluidity. At high fluidity, the viscosity is low and at
(b) Balance method: low fluidity, the viscosity is high. Viscosity at any
In this method specimen is weighed in air and specified temperature is measured by recording the
then in water. The specific gravity is calculated time in seconds for a given quantity of product at
by: the same temperature to flow through an orifice of
e
Specific gravity = standard dimensions into a receiver. The higher
e− f the viscosity of binder, more time will be recorded
Where and, lower the viscosity of binder, less time will be
  e = Weight of dry specimen recorded.
 f = Weight of specimen immersed in distilled 11. Water content test: This test is conducted to know
water the content of water in a sample of bitumen.
•• For pure bitumen, specific gravity ranges from
1.01–1.03
•• For tars specific gravity ranges from 1.1–1.25

Exercises

1. Bitumen in 5. Plastic bitumen is generally used for

(A) solid state, is called asphalt. (A) road pavements.
(B) semi fluid state, is called mineral tar. (B) expansion joints.
(C) fluid state, is called petroleum. (C) crack filling.
(D) All of these (D) None of these
2. According to ISI, bitumen is classified into 6. Bitumen emulsion is
(A) 2 grades (B) 4 grades (A) a liquid containing bitumen in suspension.
(C) 6 grades (D) 10 grades (B) a paint.
3. Bitumen is generally obtained from (C) used as anti-corrosive paint.
(A) organic material (D) All of these
(B) synthetic material 7. Mastic asphalt is normally used for
(C) petroleum product (A) sound insulation.
(D) coal (B) water proofing.
4. Bitumen may be dissolved in (C) fire proofing.
(A) carbon dioxide (D) None of these
(B) water 8. The filler used in plastic bitumen, is
(C) sodium chloride (A) shale powder (B) talc powder
(D) carbon disulphide (C) asbestos powder (D) plastic powder

Answer Keys

Exercises
1. D 2. D 3. C 4. D 5. C 6. D 7. B 8. C

Part III_Unit 4_Chapter 05.indd 3 5/18/2017 10:22:20 PM