Oxidized Bitumen: What is Oxidized or Blown bitumen?

Oxidized bitumen or blown bitumen is produced by blowing hot air into pure bitumen in the final stages of its refinement. In this process, the manufacturers blow hot air at the temperature of 200 to 300 Celsius through a perforated pipe into the bitumen container. As a result, the hydrogen atoms in bitumen’s hydrocarbon molecules combine with oxygen. Consequently, they result in water polymerization of bitumen. In this article, we will explain more about the properties of blown bitumen, blown bitumen uses and the types of blown bitumen. We will also explain more on what is blown bitumen.

What is oxidized bitumen?

First of all, let us see what is blown bitumen definition and how it is made. Oxidized bitumen, which is also called blown bitumen or blown asphalt, is a substance that manufacturers produce from petroleum at high temperatures by instigating controlled chemical reactions of air or oxygens. This process makes the bitumen sticky and harder than before and improves its heating properties.

The manufacturers can change the bitumen oxidation degree to produce a wide range of bitumen products that have different properties such as increased softening point, reduced penetration degree and improved resistance to air and oxidation. Blown asphalt has many uses in roofs, humidity insulations and producing Industrial products like adhesives, covers and sealants.

Solid blown bitumen is a type of bitumen that manufacturers make by blowing air into pure bitumen. Therefore, it has a lower penetration degree and higher softening point.

How do you make oxidized bitumen?

Blown asphalt is the result of constant blowing into normal bitumen. First, the manufacturers heat the penetration degree bitumen in a controlled environment. Then, they blow air into the bitumen to control the petroleum content in it when it is oxidized. Different oxidized bitumen grades are used for different purposes.

What is the process of bitumen oxidation?

The oxidized bitumen production process has a few steps which are:

• Heating bitumen or vacuum batuum to 200 to 270 Celsius
• Transferring molten bitumen into bitumen-blowing towers
• Air is blown into the bitumen
• Cooling hot blown bitumen by air
• Packaging blown grade bitumen products

Technical points and operational conditions

The manufacturers have to blow into bitumen below the blowing tank. Also, the reaction between bitumen and air is exothermic. So, if the byproduct heat is too much, the manufacturers inject water into the tank to control its temperature. The increase in temperature, the amount of air injection, time and pressure of the blowing towers all increase the speed of the chemical reaction in the process.

The right temperature to produce blown asphalt is 265 to 270 Celsius. This temperature will be controlled throughout the whole operation to prevent it from increasing.

The reason for this is that in higher temperatures, and especially at 288 Celsius, the chemical reaction in producing oxidized bitumen will intensify and will be uncontrollable. Therefore, it will likely cause an explosion within the blowing tower.

It is not advisable to keep bitumen for a long time in the blowing towers. That is why as soon as air blown bitumen is ready, the manufacturers have to extract it.

Oxidized bitumen uses

Blown asphalt has many uses in road construction, water energy projects, roofs and floor construction, mastic, oil and gas industry, electricity, etc. So, in this section, we will explain what are the grades of oxidized bitumen used for.

What is oxidized bitumen used for: 1. Road construction

Using blown asphalt is a good choice for road construction, maintenance and paving. Road workers use blown bitumen as additives to adhesives for building roads, highways, railways and parking lots.

Blown asphalt application: 2. Water energy projects

One of the most commonly used substances in water canals is blown asphalt. Moreover, engineers can use oxidized bitumen in many water projects such as backfilling and dam construction, building hydraulic parts, dam covers and sand stabilization.

3. Blown asphalt for roofing

Construction workers use blown asphalt in making roof felts, roof shingles, damp proofing mixture, gable roof mixture, plastic cement, etc. Overall, oxidized bitumen or blown asphalt is the best choice for making roof humidity insulation.

Blown asphalt uses: 4. Flooring

One of the main applications of blown asphalt is to produce flooring. Acid and alkaline-proof bituminous mastic are useful in chemical factories, fertilizer and steel plants and many other industrial buildings to protect their floor from corrosion. Also, the oxidized bitumen is suitable for repairing flooring.

What is blown bitumen usage: 5. Petroleum and Gas Industry

Oxidized bitumen is a common product used in the petroleum and gas industry and is good for covering pipelines to protect them from corrosion and rust.

6. Electrical power industry

blown asphalt is adhesive to multi-layered boards. Therefore, manufacturers use blown asphalt to seal junction boxes. Furthermore, blown asphalt is applicable in the cabling industry for lithium batteries and wiring. It is because oxidized bitumen dielectric high resistance and heat stability make it an effective barrier against heat and electrical currents.

Benefits of using oxidized bitumen

As we explained in the previous section, blown asphalt has many uses in various industries. For this reason, using oxidized bitumen has many benefits, some of which are:

What is blown asphalt benefit: 1. Improved durability

Oxidized bitumen is more durable and more resistant to environmental conditions. That is why it is ideal for use in harsh circumstances.

2. Higher viscosity

The oxidation process in bitumen increases its viscosity. Consequently, it makes oxidized bitumen qualified for applications like roofs and ceilings, which need more adhesive materials.

3. Better humidity insulation

Because it has higher viscosity, blown bitumen is an effective choice for ceiling and humidity insulation.

4. Higher softening points

The blown asphalt process of oxidation increases its softening point and makes it durable at high temperatures. Therefore, it makes oxidized bitumen more suitable for use in warm climates.

5. Enhanced adhesion

Oxidized bitumen has better adhesion than normal bitumen. For this reason, oxidized bitumen is a good choice for application in paving and road maintenance.

6. Reduced grooving and deformation

The hardness of blown bitumen is higher than other bitumen products. Therefore, its hardness reduces the risk of grooving and deformation of oxidized bitumen in paving which makes it an excellent choice to apply in road construction.

Types of oxidized bitumen

Manufacturers categorize blown asphalt products based on their oxidation degrees. Each blown asphalt product has special physical traits and different uses. Some of the common gradings for blown bitumen products are the following:

The properties and traits of each blown asphalt product are different based on its manufacturer and intended use. That is why you must consult a bitumen supplier and consider blown bitumen specifications for your needs to purchase the best-blown bitumen product.

Hard-degree oxidized bitumen

Hard degree blown bitumen has the highest oxidation degree and its products are suitable for industrial applications which require high resistance to weather conditions.

Medium-degree oxidized bitumen

Medium-degree blown bitumen has less oxidation than hard-degree products. Therefore, it is better to use its products in humidity insulation appliances such as ceilings, roofs and foundations.

Softer degree oxidized bitumen

The soft degree blown asphalt has a minimum oxidation degree and road constructors mainly use it in paving roads.

Ultra-hard degree oxidized bitumen

Ultra-hard blown bitumen is very similar to hard degree oxidized bitumen products. However, it has a higher oxidation level. That is why it is suitable for use in extreme weather conditions.

The difference between bitumen and blown bitumen

Normal bitumen is sticky, dark in color and is produced either naturally or from petroleum. Normal bitumen is useful in road construction, humidity insulation and other appliances.

On the other hand, blown asphalt is a modified type of bitumen which manufacturers produce by exposing normal bitumen to a blowing process in controlled conditions. During the oxidation process, air is blown at hot temperatures into the bitumen.

This instigates a chemical reaction into the bitumen and injects oxygen into its molecular structures. As a result, this process causes partial oxidation into bitumen which ultimately changes its physical and chemical properties. But are normal and oxidized bitumen truly different? In this section, we will explain some essential differences between normal and blown bitumen.

There are various grades and specifications for normal and blown bitumen products because these products are different based on their use and regional standards.

Consistency

Normal bitumen is hard and very adhesive. However, blown bitumen is harder and less adhesive. The oxidation process causes an increase in blown asphalt composition molecular weight and cross-linking. Therefore, the oxidized bitumen’s consistency will be more solid than the normal bitumen.

Softening point

Every bitumen product has a certain softening point which is a temperature at which the bitumen will become soft and flexible. Oxidized bitumen has a higher softening point which makes it a better product to use at higher temperatures and roads with heavy traffic.

Durability

Oxidized bitumen has higher molecular weight and increased cross-linking. Therefore, it is more durable against changes in temperature and ultraviolet rays. Moreover, blown asphalt is more stable and resistant to deformation and cracks.

Usages

Most normal bitumen appliances are in road construction, paving, humidity insulation and producing asphalt. However, blown bitumen products often have better uses in special applications that require more hardness and resistance to deformation from temperature change. These uses mostly include roof materials, pipeline covers, electric insulations and joint fillers.

Accessibility

Natural bitumen is easily accessible in natural resources, made from petroleum or natural bitumen reserves. In contrast, manufacturers have to produce blown asphalt through a special production process that includes blowing controlled air into the bitumen which modifies it. Furthermore, blown bitumen is usually produced in specialized and oxidized bitumen production plant.

Where to buy oxidized bitumen

Based on the contents of this article, now you know blown asphalt’s uses and benefits. Blown asphalt is fully resistant to water and highly flexible and durable. Also, it is very stable from a chemical viewpoint. All these qualities make blown asphalt an important product to use in various industries.

Therefore, blown bitumen sale takes place in manufacturers and corporations for oxidized bitumen buyers. If you are interested in knowing about the price of blown asphalt for sale and its purchase, contact us at IranETrade Inc.