Bitumen is the binder used in flexible pavements, making “asphalt concrete” (the mixture of coarse and fine aggregates, filler and bituminous binder). Bitumen is a noncrystalline, black or dark brown, (solid, semi-solid or viscous) cementitious substance, composed mainly of high molecular weight hydrocarbons, and is soluble in organic solvents. Bitumen is manufactured as a byproduct of crude oil and lubrication oil production. Bitumen is temperature susceptible, that is, the material is fluid when heated allowing it to be pumped, mixed and sprayed. When cold, it is a plastic solid.
In this topic, we will learn about the chemical composition of bitumen, structure of bitumen, properties of bitumen, types of bituminous binders, selection of binder types for different applications, and testing of bituminous materials.
