What is Oxidized Bitumen (Blown Bitumen)?

Pars Bitumen Oxidized Bitumen is produced in different grades. At Pars Bitumen factory, Oxidized Bitumen is produced as a result of vacuum bottom oxidation in the presence of heat and blowing air into the vacuum Batuum towers. Oxidized Bitumen (blown bitumen), is a petroleum product, a hydrocarbon which has a high molecular weight including Oil, Resin and Asphaltene.

 

What are Oxidized Bitumen Grades:

The most well-known and highly applied grades of Oxidized Bitumen are 90/15, 85/25, 115/15, 75/25, 95/25. All the Oxidized Bitumen grades are listed as below: 

Oxidized Bitumen 75/25

Oxidized Bitumen 75/35

Oxidized Bitumen 85/25

Oxidized Bitumen 85/35

Oxidized Bitumen 85/40

Oxidized Bitumen 90/10

Oxidized Bitumen 90/15

Oxidized Bitumen 90/40

Oxidized Bitumen 105/15

Oxidized Bitumen 105/35

Oxidized Bitumen 110/30

Oxidized Bitumen 115/15

Oxidized Bitumen 115/25

Oxidized Bitumen 115/35

Oxidized Bitumen 150/5

How is Oxidized Bitumen Produced?

Pars Bitumen Oxidized Bitumen or Blown Bitumen is produced by blowing hot air (with high temperature over 200 °C) into vacuum towers. This Bitumen sample enters the special tank in liquid form with high temperature and air is blown into it from the end of this tank with the help of perforated pipes. This process is carried out at a temperature between 200 °C. As the result, the presence of 5 to 30% asphaltene and due to the increase in the amount of asphaltene in its structure of bitumen, makes the oxidized bitumen harder than normal bitumen.

The abbreviation of blown or oxidized bitumen is R, for example, if bitumen is called R85/25, it means that it is blown bitumen with a penetration degree of 25 hundreds of a millimeter and a softening point of 85 degrees Celsius, wherever the word R is in front of the bitumen specifications, it indicates that the bitumen is Oxidized or Blown Bitumen.

How is Oxidized Bitumen Tested?

In the analysis of oxidized bitumen R90/15, R120/15, R115/15, R10/20, the ASTM test (bitumen permeability degree), which is an international test, indicates the type of bitumen oxidized or blown in different grades.

What are the Applications of Oxidized Bitumen?

Different types of Blown (Oxidized) Bitumen have low penetration point degree and have a high softening point degree. These characteristics of oxidized bitumen results to be resistant to sunlight or high heat exposure. Also oxidized (Blown) bitumen has a suitable property for industrial application to produce waterproofing, Insulation of oil and water pipes, battery production and insulation of the floor and body of cars to prevent rotting and corrosion. Many roofing companies use this type of bitumen to produce waterproof roofing materials all over the world. Oxidized Bitumen produced by Pars Bitumen are sold to many countries all over the world especially east Asia such as India.

Conclusion:

Oxidized (Blown) Bitumen is a highly demanded applicable derivative of Bitumen during the recent years. One of the benefits of using Oxidized Bitumen is that it is packed in small 25 kg bags which makes it easily portable, so can be applied in different surfaces and places especially even for very small projects of insulation. This type of bitumen is softer than pure bitumen and is also more resistant to temperature changes and has a lower penetration coefficient than pure bitumen. These special features of Pars Bitumen Oxidized Bitumen helps to further applications and sales of this product all over the world.

Written and Gathered by Pars Bitumen Company