ASPHALT TECHNOLOGY

I. INTRODUCTION

A. Definition : According to ASTM

ASPHALT is a dark brown to black cementitious material, solid or

semi-solid in consistency, in which the predominating constituent are
bitumen.

Bitumen are obtained in nature or as a residue in refining petroleum

oil. It is applied to native substances like: petroleum, native asphalts,
mineral waxes, asphaltites in variable colors, hardness and volatility.
It is 99% minimum of asphalt.

B. Composition of Asphalt

1. ASPHALTENE is responsible for the plastic properties of asphalt

and imparts/contributes hardness into it.

2. PETROLENE is the substance which is soluble in petroleum solvents.

Resin imparts ductility and a high breaking point

Oily Constituents responsible for the softness of asphalt

C. Significant Properties of Asphalt

Highly Cementitious where it binds the aggregate and asphalt

together
Readily Adhesive it has the ability to adhere with the aggregates in
the presence of water
Waterproof and Durable - it prevents the entrance of water to the
pavement, where the presence of water will cause deterioration.
Thermoplastic Substance when mix with aggregates it imparts
flexibility to the pavement.
Highly Resistant to Chemicals it has the resistance against the
action of acids, salts and alkalies.

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 D. Uses of Asphalt

* Binder * As Tack Coat

* Joint/crack filler * As Prime Coat
* Waterproofing * As Seal Coat
* Coating of pipes * Undersealing PCCP

II. BITUMINOUS/ASPHALTIC MATERIALS

1.Types of Bituminous Materials

Natural Deposits are those asphalt formed by natural process of petroleum

oil.

Pure Asphalt/Deposit like lake asphalts and could only

be found in South America.

Rock Asphalt an asphalt that occurs within a porous

rock structure or those asphalt impregnated/embedded in
rocks. The only commercial source in the Philippines is
found in Villaba, Leyte.

Manufactured Asphalt it is the by-product of petroleum oil.

Asphalt Cement (AC or Hot Asphalt)

Liquid Asphalt

1.2.1.1 Emulsified Asphalt (EA)

1.2.1.2 Cutback Asphalt

Joint Filler/Blown Asphalt

2. Characteristics/Properties/Uses of Manufactured Asphalt

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2.1 Asphalt Cement (AC) - is black in color, semi-solid in
consistency

Penetration Grade

40 50 120 150
60 70 200 - 300
85 - 100

* Sampling of AC - for every 200 drums, one (1) sample,

equivalent to four (4) liters or one (1)
gallon.

2.2 Liquid Asphalt

2.2.1 Emulsified Asphalt it is chocolate brown in

color, liquid at room temperature and has a pungent odor.

* Sampling of EA - for every 200 drum, one (1)

sample equivalent to four (4)
liters or one (1) gallon

* Composition of Emulsified Asphalt

Asphalt Cement - 60%

Water - 40%
Emulsifier - 0.5 to 1.0%

* Two (2) kinds of Emulsified Asphalt

Anionic EA -it has a negative charge ion

-it has a lesser cohesion with
aggregates
Cationic EA - it has a positive charge ion
- it has a greater affinity or cohesion
with aggregates
* Classes of Emulsified Asphalt

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 The rate at which the emulsion breaks in a mixture will
be classified as follows:

Slow Setting (SS) > The basis of classification

Medium Setting (MS) > depends on the rate in
Rapid Setting (RS) > which the emulsion will
break when in contract
with the aggregates

* Ionization - the process that AC is being mixed

with water plus emulsifier

2.2.2. Cutback Asphalt came from blending of

AC plus solvent.
- black in color, liquid at room
temperature
* Types of Cutback Asphalt

Slow Curing (SC) - AC + road/diesel oil

Medium Curing (MC) - AC + kerosene
Rapid Curing (RC) - AC + gasoline or naptha

* Classification According to Grades

MC - 30, 70, 250, 800 and 3000

RC - 70, 250, 800 and 3000

2.3 Joint Filler/Blown Asphalt solid and very hard at

room temperature, black in color, and odorless

* Joint Filler/Asphalt Sealer could not be used as binder

for pavement but have special uses like: joint/crack
filler/sealer in concrete pavement.
* Penetration Grade Joint Filler are 30-40; 40-50;
50-60 and 60-70.

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III. BITUMINOUS/ASPHALT MIX

1. Composition of Bituminous Mix

1.1 Asphalt - 5% - 8%
1.2 Aggregates - 92% to 95%
1.3 Additive - not more than 2%

2. The Three (3) Fractions of Aggregates

2.1 Coarse Aggregate (CA) - aggregate retained at 2.36 mm or

No. 8 sieve

2.2 Fine Aggregate (FA) - aggregate passing 2.36 mm or

retained at 0.075 mm. sieve

2.3 Mineral Filler - Passing 0.075 mm or No. 200 sieve

3. Properties of Aggregates

3.1 Hardness - Select aggregate that are strong and tough, in

order to avoid deterioration or breakage during
rolling or traffic. (If not strong, pavement is
unstable and there is degradation)

3.2 Soundness -
(synonymous to durability) select aggregate
that could withstand the changing weather or
climatic condition. Det. by soundness
3.3 Shape and Surface Texture of Aggregate - prefer crushed
aggregate with rough surface texture and
angular in shape
3.4 Absorption - select aggregate that do not absorb so much
water
3.5 Cleanliness - to remove clayey materials because if unclean,
it could not be coated by an asphalt

3.6 Gradation - aggregates should meet the grading

specification

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4. Quality Tests of Bituminous

4.1 Extraction Test - Determine the amount of percent

asphalt present in a bituminous mix.

4.2 Bilk Specific Gravity - Determine the voids a bituminous

mix. Ideal Gmb = 2.25

4.3 Grading - determine the composition of

aggregate in bituminous mix

4.4 Stability - Determine the compressive

strength of bituminous mix.
Immersion-Compression Stability
Marshall Stability

Flow - measures the plasticity of mix and the diametric

distortion required to produce failure.

5. Properties of Mix

5.1 Stability - resistance to displacement of

compacted bituminous mixture.
5.2 Durability - resistance to disintegration due to
the detrimental effects of traffic,
water, air and temperature changes.
5.3 Flexibility - ability of the pavement to bend
repeatedly without cracking and to
conform to variations of underlying
base.
5.4 Skid Resistance - resistance offered by the pavement
to slipping or skidding of the vehicle
tires

5.5 Workability - the ease by which a material can be

placed to its desired uniformity and
compacted to a required density.

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FORMULAS INVOLVED:

1. % Asphalt Content W1 W2
By mass of aggregate = W2 x 100

W1 = Mass of sample
W2 = Mass of sample after extraction

wt. in air
2. Bulk, Specific Gravity (Gmb) = wt. in SSD - wt. water

100
3. Max. Specific Gravity (Gmm) = % AC + % Agg.
SG AC SG Agg.

Gmm - Gmb
4. % Air Void (AV) = Gmm x 100

5. Combined Spec. Gravity (G) P1 + P2 + P3

of Aggregates = P1 P2 P3
G1 + G2 + G3
Where:
P1, P2, P3 = % AC. FA, MF
G1, G2. G3 = Spec. Gravity of CA, FA, MF

6. % Voids in Mineral Agg. (VMA) 100 - Gmb (% Agg)

= x 100
SG of Agg.

7. % Voids Filled with Asphalt (VFA) = VMA (100 R)

(R = Gmb / Gmm) VMA

8. Weight of Asphalt Cement

%AC = Wt. AC
Wt. AC+Wt. Agg.

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