Australian Standard Bitumen is bitumen that is produced and tested to meet the requirements of the Australian Standard AS 2008: Residual Bitumen for Pavements. This standard specifies the properties of conventional pavement-grade bitumens most widely used in Australia.
The most common classes of Australian Standard Bitumen are:
Class 170: The most commonly used class for sprayed sealing
Class 240: Higher viscosity binder (compared to C170) used by some road agencies in warm climates
Class 320: Most commonly used to manufacture asphalt mixes
Class 450:For use in the manufacture of asphalt mixes where the local road agency has a preference for a slightly more viscous bitumen than Class 320
- Sprayed seals
- Asphalt mixes
- Bitumen emulsions
- Modified bitumens
Australian Standard Bitumen is known for its high quality and performance, and it is used to build and maintain some of the most durable roads in the world.
Here are some of the benefits of using Australian Standard Bitumen:
- High quality and performance
- Durability
- Resistance to traffic wear and tear
- Resistance to climate extremes
- Safe and environmentally friendly
Australian Standard Bitumen is produced by a number of different companies in Australia, and it is available from a variety of suppliers. Engineers, contractors and other experts in construction and road business should be aware of these standards to make sure that the bitumen materials used in their projects must fulfill the essential quality and safety requirements.
Australian Standard - Viscosity Grade Bitumen Specifications (AS2008-1997)
| Property | Units | Class 50 | Class 170 | Class 320 | Class 600 | Test Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity, 140°F (60°C) | Pa.s | 40-60 | 140-200 | 260-380 | 500-700 | AS 2341.2 or AS 2341.3 |
| Viscosity, 275°F (135°C) | Pa.s | 0.20-0.30 | 0.25-0.45 | 0.40-0.65 | 0.60-0.85 | AS 2341.2 or AS 2341.3 |
| Penetration, 77°F (25°C), 100g, 5sec, Min | 0.1MM | 130 | 62 | 40 | 20 | AS 2341.12 |
| Flash point, Min | °C | 250 | 250 | 250 | 250 | AS 2341.14 |
| Matter Insoluble in toluene, Max | %Wt | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | AS 2341.8 |
| Tests on residue from thin-film oven test: | ||||||
| Viscosity, 140°F (60°C), Max | Pa.s | 300 | 300 | 300 | 300 | AS 2341.2 or 2341.3 |
| Density at 15°C | Kg/L | Greater than 1.0, normally 1.01 to 1.04 | AS 2341.7 | |||
Australian Standard - Viscosity Grade Bitumen Specification (AS2008-2013)
| Property | Units | Class 170 | Class 240 | Class 320 | Class 450 | Class 600 | Test Methods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viscosity, 140°F (60°C) | Pa.s | 140-200 | 190-280 | 260-380 | Report | 500-700 | AS/NZS 2341.2 |
| Viscosity, 275°F (135°C) | Pa.s | 0.25-0.45 | 0.32-0.55 | 0.4-0.65 | 0.70 Max | 0.60-0.85 | AS 2341.3 |
| Penetration, 77°F (25°C), 100g, 5sec, Min | 0.1MM | 62 | 53 | 40 | Report | 20 | AS 2341.12 |
| Flash point, Min | °C | 250 | AS 2341.14 | ||||
| Matter Insoluble in toluene, Max | %Wt | 1.0 | AS/NZS 2341.20 or 2341.8 | ||||
| Density at 15°C | Kg/m3 | Report | AS 2341.7 | ||||
| Tests on residue from thin-film oven test (RTFO): | |||||||
| Viscosity, 140oF (60oC) | Pa.s | - | - | Report | 750-1150 | - | AS/NZS 2341.10 or 2341.2 |
| - | - | Report | 850-1300 | - | ASTM D2872 | ||
| Viscosity of RTFO residue as % of Original | % | 300Max | 300Max | 300Max | Report | 300Max | AS/NZS 2341.10 or 2341.2 |
| 340Max | 340Max | 340Max | 340Max | 340Max | ASTM D2872 | ||
| Penetration at 25oC after RTFO | 0.1mm | - | - | Report | 26Min | - | AS/NZS 2341.10 or 2341.12 |
| Mass Change | % | - | - | Report | 0.6 Max | - | AS/NZS 2341.10 or 2341.12 |
Storage & Handling
Bitumens should not be stored at elevated temperatures for prolonged periods, as the quality can be adversely affected. The lowest temperature at which bitumen can be kept is as good as possible for practical use.
Generally, liquid bitumen should be blended and transferred at temperatures 10°C to 40°C higher than the minimum pumping temperature. To know more about this, contact top bitumen suppliers in the UAE.
Health & Safety
To ensure hot bitumen is used in a safe and efficient manner the following safety precautions must be followed:
- Wear suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. Full skin protection is required to avoid accidental burns when transferring or handling hot bitumen.
- Always prevent contact between water and hot bitumen by checking the contents of the previous load before loading bituminous products into tankers and by following procedures to avoid a violent boil-over of tanks.
- Avoid exposure to fumes by standing back on the gantry or upwind until the vapours have dispersed.
- Minimize bitumen fume by heating bitumen and asphalt products to the recommended temperatures.
- Minimize the use of diesel when cleaning equipment as this contributes to the bitumen fume.