Asphalts and Bitumen
Asphalt and bitumen are widely used in road construction as durable, efficient alternatives to concrete. Through hydrocarbon modification, these materials gain improved load-bearing strength and resistance to oxidation, weathering, and cracking.
Asphalt occurs naturally in crude oil but is refined by adjusting light and heavy distillates to create different products:
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Asphalt Cement – semi-solid binder classified by penetration (hardness).
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Road Oil – asphalt blended with oil distillates.
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Cutback Asphalts – asphalt dissolved in volatile solvents (ASTM D2399 defines 13 grades by cure rate/viscosity).
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Emulsified Asphalts – asphalt mixed with treated water.
Curing rates define the liquid asphalt type: slow (road oils, ASTM D2026), medium (ASTM D2027), or rapid (ASTM D2028). At Texas OilTech Laboratories, we test and classify asphalt products according to the proper ASTM specifications.