What is cutback bitumen?

Cutback bitumen is a range of binders that are produced by adding a hydrocarbon solvent such as paraffin or mineral turpentine to the penetration grade bitumen and mixing them.

as the solvent evaporates, the binder returns to its original form (penetration grade) to stick the particles with one another. Cutback bitumen gets the name from the solvent which is used in the process, because the solvent cuts back or evaporates, leaving the binder on the surface to do the rest of the work. The solvent used is called the cutter or flux.
Three types of solvents, based on the time of evaporation, are used in the mixture: slow-curing, medium-curing and rapid-curing solvents. A rapid-curing (RC) solvent will disappear faster than a medium-curing (MC) solvent and the same relation works between MC and SC. Evaporation rate of the solvent which effects the setting time of the bitumen, determines the curing. The viscosity of the cutback how ever, is dependent on the proportion and amount of solvent added: the higher the amount, the lower the viscosity of the cutback.
The ability to reshape is a great advantage the cutbacks have over the common penetration grade bitumen. It also requires less heat to liquefy which makes cutback grades easier to use at lower temperatures.
widely used cutback bitumen grades are MC 30 and RC 250. The letters refer to the curing speed of the solvent, and the number determines the viscosity of the product.

The benefit Cutbacks offer compared to Emulsions, is a much higher residual Bitumen percentage, usually over 80% while the rate for emulsions is around 40-65% . As a result, for the same volume of binder applied, more Bitumen is left on the roadway after curing.

Environmental regulations. Cutback asphalts contain volatile chemicals that evaporate into the air. Emulsified asphalts evaporate water into the atmosphere and can be considered an eco friendly product.
The petroleum solvents used require higher amounts of energy to manufacture and are expensive compared to the water and emulsifying agents used in emulsified asphalts.

 

Manufacturing of cutback bitumen

Cutback bitumen are manufactured by blending either 70/100 penetration grade or the 160/220 with kerosene to comply with the desired viscosity specification. The main application of cutback bitumen is in the surface dressing but a notable amount is also used in Manufacturing of both deferred and standard set asphalts.
In addition to STV tests and solubility, cutback bitumen grades have to be in compliance with a distillation specification I621 and should also fulfil the penetration requirements on the residual bitumen. This ensures that during application and in service, the solvent (diluent) will evaporate at a predictable rate with consistency and that the residual bitumen will have the appropriate properties in the project.
The suffix X on the SHELPHALT range of cutback bitumen, demonstrates that they have been doped with a heat-stable passive adhesion agent special formulation. This additive contributes in the wetting of the aggregates and builds up a resistance stripping of the binder from the aggregates in the presence of water.

AASHTO categorize the cutback bitumen into 3 types: rapid curing (RC) where the solvents used are petrol/gasoline, medium curing (MC) made with kerosene and slow curing (SC) which contains diesel oil. A capillary tube viscometer is used to measure the viscosity at 60C. The flow in the viscometer is highly affected by the gravity, and the vacuum is not needed. The viscosity here uses centistokes as the unit whereas, for pure bitumen measuring unit is poise. The units of strokes and poise are related to one another through the density of the tested material.
The British Standard demonstrates specifications for three viscosity grades of cutback bitumen intended surface dressings applications. Measurement is using a discharge viscometer, and viscosity is defined with the time in seconds for 50millilitres of the binder to flow through a standard orifice at 40C.

 

Specifications of cutback bitumen

Cutback bitumen is a mixture of penetration grade bitumen and petroleum solvents. Type and characteristics of the solvent used determines the speed (rate) at which the bitumen will cure or set up when exposed to air. A rapid-curing (RC) solvent will evaporate faster than a medium-curing (MC) solvent. The viscosity of the cutback bitumen is determined by the proportion of solvent added – the higher the proportion of solvent, the lower is the viscosity of the cutback.

Advantage of cutback bitumen

it can be easily applied at lower temperatures than penetration grades because of its lower Bitumen Solvents viscosity. A disadvantage is that cutback bitumen consumes non-renewable energy resources which are eventually lost during evaporation.

Applications of Cutback Bitumen in Bituminous (asphalt) Road Construction, paving and Maintenance:

Prime and Tack Coating:

The process of priming includes a low viscosity binder to a prepared (usually unbound) aggregate base. It is intended to be blended by the top layers of the base and to be absorbed by it in order to provide a surface which can easily be wetted by another bituminous covering afterwards. The primer will be able to carry traffic for a short time (though it’s uncommon in practice) and helps in controlling the dust. Usually, primers are applied at a rate between 0.5 and 1.4 L/m2. Cutback bitumen grades are an excellent choice for priming and are also used for tack coating, being used to an underlying surface to help in the adhesion built between the first layer and the subsequent asphalt layer.

 

Prime Sealing

In locations with cold temperatures that interrupt an effective priming operation, or where traffic is likely to damage a primed surface before spraying the final seal layer, a primer seal can be applied to give enough protection of the pavement surface for periods of up to 6 to 12 months. These cutback grades can also be used in the process of manufacturing the pre-mix asphalt, which is used in patch repairs.

Spray Sealing

Cutback bitumen types are widely used in spraying sealing applications, particularly in low temperatures where they offer a much better initial stone retention because of their lower viscosity. Commonly, a single application of the suitable cutback bitumen is sprayed onto the primed pavement where aggregates lay.

Cutback bitumen standard

  • ASTM D 2026, D 2027and D 2028for SC, MC and RC.
    • AASHTO M 81, M 82 for RC and MC.
    • EN 15522 Cut back and Fluxed Bituminous Binder

BS Group producer and exporter of fine cutback bitumen in all grades in full compliance with ASTM D2026, D2027, D2028, AASHTO M82-75 (2008), AASHTO M92-92 (2008).

BS group produce different grade of cutback bitumen which is classified below:

Contact information

BS group provides wide range of bituminous products and offers road maintenance solutions to clients base on their needs
Address: No1, Mobtakeran 4 St, Birjand industrial zone, Iran
Phone: +98-5632420200
Fax: +98-5632255130
Email: info[at]bsgroup.co.ir