Oxidized Bitumen or Blown Asphalt or Blown Bitumen is produced by either Continuous or Staggered Blowing Process. Heated Penetration Grade Bitumen under a controlled environment is blown with air which controls the Oil Content in the Bitumen while it oxidized. The different grades for suited applications produced are designated by two numbers to indicate the mid-points of their softening point and penetration ranges.

This process gives the bitumen more rubbery properties than its original formula and they are simply harder bitumen. Hard bitumen under controlled temperature conditions is widely used as an anti-slip layer compound in the piling industry, for the manufacture of roofing felts, the roofing and waterproofing industries, for sound dampening felts and undercarriage sealant in the automotive industry, electric cable joint protection, joint filling compound, sealant compound, and many others. Also used in sealing saw cuts and joints where expected movements are minimum. It is also used in the manufacturing of bituminous marine mastic for the oil & gas pipeline joints.

Oxidized Bitumen or Blown Asphalt is produced by blowing hot air into the penetration bitumen. This action makes the bitumen more rubbery than its original formula and it becomes harder bitumen. This bitumen recovery the weight loss under heating. Due to low thermal sensitivity, the softening point is much higher than regular bitumen and the penetration index (PI) is higher than road construction bitumen (8>PI>2) due to the letter has a gel-like structure because of asphalt accumulation. Special physical properties of its grade can be used in different applications in the construction business. Oxidized Bitumen is made by an ongoing or Staggered Blowing Process. Heated Penetration bitumen under a controlled environment is blown with air which controls oil content in bitumen while it oxidized.

Blown Bitumen is produced by the air-blowing of penetration-grade bitumen. This is done at high temperatures, resulting in a material of a much higher penetration index. Blown Bitumen is based on petroleum bitumen which is made by blowing bitumen 60/70 by very hot air. The designation of the Blown Bitumen refers to the midpoint of the softening point acceptance criteria. Oxidized Bitumen is based on petroleum bitumen which is made by blowing bitumen 60/70 by very hot air. In addition, the numbers relate to the midpoint of the material’s softening point and penetration respectively. The softening point value measured by the Ring and Ball method as determined by ASTM D36. Also, the penetration value is in 1/10 mm as determined by IP49 or ASTM- D5.

Oxidized Bitumen is a solid or semi-black solid material and gradually liquid when heated. Oxidized Bitumen grades are blown or oxidized Asphalt‘s which are produced by passing air through soft bitumen under controlled temperature conditions. This process gives the bitumen rubberier properties than penetration or hard grade bitumen and a variety of uses in industrial applications.

Blending

Blending the higher and lower viscosity residues in the required proportions can take place at the factory, refinery, terminals, or at a third-party facility, where blend components and products can be easily transported and distributed for use.

Each processing technique results in different grades of bitumen products, including: –

1. Hard-grade bitumen – used for paving.

2. Cut back bitumen – blend of penetration bitumen with a solvent such as kerosene.
3. Emulsions – stabilized suspensions of bitumen in water.
4. polymer modified bitumen – a mixture of selected bitumen with polymers, such as thermoplastics or elastomers.