Bitumen 40/50

The term “40/50” in bitumen 40/50 means the penetration value is in the range between 40 to 50 mm/10 at standard test conditions which commonly used as a paving grade bitumen. This bitumen is produced by aeration on vacuum bottom (the raw material used for making bitumen left in vacuum distillation column in oil refineries) in bitumen production units. Its penetration grade ( the measure of bitumen hardness) is between 40 to 50. Bitumen is specified by the penetration and softening point test. Designing is by penetration range only. The penetration grade bitumen has a thermoplastic property which causes the material to soften at high temperatures and to harden at lower temperatures. This unique temperature-viscosity relationship is important when determining the performance parameters such as the adhesion, rheology, durability and application temperatures of bitumen.

The Bitumen mode is dependent on temperature. The temperature-vs-stiffness relationship of bitumen is dependent on the type of crude oil and its refining method. Bitumen penetration grade 40/50 is semi-hard penetration grade bitumen used as a paving grade bitumen which is suitable for road construction and repair. It is also used for the production of asphalt pavements with the below technical specification. This grade of bitumen is mainly used in the manufacturing of hot mix asphalt for bases and wearing courses. Bitumen 40/50 is one of the most used bitumen grades and it’s a basic material for all other bituminous products.