Bitumen is widely used in the construction of asphalt roads and bituminous membrane products. Bitumen is commonly used to build highways, motorways, and rail networks. Bitumen has excellent water-proofing properties and is widely used for making roofing products along with a range of other household and industrial applications, from emulsion paints to sound-proofing. Penetration Bitumen and Bitumen Emulsions are used for the construction of railway tracks and by using special types of bitumen such as Polymer Modified Bitumen, the vibration and noise levels are reduced due to a dampening effect. Bitumen has been proven to be effective on both high-speed railway tracks and heavy-load railway tracks. Bitumen is also used for surfacing airfield runways and airstrips (PMB is preferred due to its fuel-resistant properties) and taxiways. For the Marine construction industry bitumen is used for hydraulic applications such as canal lining, underwater tunnels, riverbank protection, dam construction, and sea defences. There are also numerous industrial applications like roofing felt material, printing inks, packaging paper, linoleum, electrical cable / Junction box insulation, mastic for roofing of terraces, and duplex paper manufacture. Bitumen Suppliers Limited can meet all your individual requirements.
The vast majority of refined bitumen is used in construction: primarily as a constituent of products used in paving and roofing applications. According to the requirements of the end-use bitumen is produced to specification. This is achieved either by refining the process or blending.
It is estimated that the current world use of bitumen is approximately 102 million metric ton per year. Approximately 85% of all the bitumen produced is used as the binder in asphalt for roads. It is also used in other paved areas such as airport runways, car parks, and footways.
Typically, the production of asphalt involves mixing sand, gravel, and crushed rock with bitumen, which acts as the binding agent. Other materials, such as polymers, may be added to the bitumen to alter its properties according to the application for which the asphalt is ultimately intended.
A further 10% of global bitumen production is used in roofing applications, where its waterproofing qualities are invaluable.
The remaining 5% of bitumen is used mainly for sealing and insulating purposes in a variety of building materials, such as pipe coatings, carpet tile backing, and paint.
Bitumen is applied in the construction and maintenance of:
- Highways
- Airport runways
- Footways / Pedestrian Ways
- Car parks
- Racetracks
- Tennis courts
- Roofing
- Damp proofing
- Dams
- Reservoir and pool linings
- Soundproofing
- Pipe coatings
- Cable Coatings
- Paints
- Building Water Proofing
- Tile underlying waterproofing
- Newspaper Ink Production