ASPHALT

I. DEFINITION:
ASPHALT-A dark brown to black

cementitious

material, solid, semi- solid or liquid in

consistency which the predominating
constituents are bitumen which occurs in
nature as such or which are obtained as
residue in refining petroleum.

BITUMEN

- the main constituent of the asphalt

-

the cementing properties of the asphalt

it is often called bituminous material

portion of asphalt that is soluble in carbon

disulfide

- a mixture of hydrocarbons of natural or

pyrogenous origin or a combination of both;
frequently accompanied by non metallic
derivatives which may be gaseous, liquid,
semisolid or solid.

BRIEFHISTORY

ASPHALTUorSPHALLO
- Acadian term where in the word asphalt is
claimed to have been derived from.

Asphalt was first used in the nature of a cement for

joining together various objects and it is possible the
term is expressive of this application.

Prehistoricskeletons of prehistoric animals preserved intact to

present day in surface deposits of asphalt La Brea, pit,
Los Angeles Calif.

3200to540B.C.-Recent Archaeological excavations show extensive

use of asphalt in Mesopotamia and Indus valley, as
cement for masonry and highway construction and as
waterproofing layer for temple baths and water tanks.
300B.C.-Asphalt extensively used for mummification in Egypt.

1802A.D.-Rock asphalt used in France for floor, bridge and sidewalk

surfacing.

1838A.D.-Rock asphalt imported and used in sidewalk

construction in Philadelphia.

1870A.D.(Circa)-First asphalt pavement laid in Newark, New

Jersey by Professor E. J. DeSmedt, a Belgian chemist.

1876A.D.-First sheet asphalt pavement laid in Washington D.C.,

with imported lake asphalt.

1902A.D.Approximately 20,000 tons of asphalt refined from

petroleum in the United States.
Since1926-to present time the petroleum asphalt and road oil
tonnage produced annually has increased steadily.


II.COMPOSITIONOFASPHALT

Scientifically asphalts are colloidalsystemsin

which asphaltenesconstitute the dispersedphase
and the remaining liquid called petrolenes
(maltenes) constitute the dispersingmedium.

1.ASPHALTENES

- the substance which remains insoluble and

precipitates or coagulates when an asphalt is
dissolved by a specific solvent such as naptha,
ethyl ether, N-pentane or heptane.

- responsible for the plastic properties of asphalts

and also imparts hardness to it.

- gives color (black, dark brown).

2.PETROLENES

- substance which is soluble in petroleum

solvents as N-pentanes.
- it is composed of resins and oily constituents.

2.1RESINS
- impart ductility and a high break point.
- provides stickiness (adhesiveness).

2.2OILYCONSTITUENTS
- responsible for the softness of asphalt.

- for good adhesiveness the oily constituents should be

low and asphaltic resins high.

- influences viscosity of asphalt.

III.PROPERTIESOFASPHALT
1.
2.
3.
4.

strong cement
readily adhesive
highly waterproof and durable
imparts controllable flexibility to mixture of mineral
aggregates.

5.

highly resistant to the action of most acid alkalis and salts

6.

solid or semi-solid at ordinary atmospheric temperature but

may be readily liquefied by the application of heat or by
dissolving it in petroleum solvents of varying volatility or by
emulsification.

7.

thermoplastic material, (consistency changes as its

temperature changes)

IV.USESOFASPHALT
1.Binder
2.Waterproofing material
3.Joint and crack filler
4.Prime Coat
5.Tack Coat
6.Seal Coat
7.Under sealing (PCCP)
8.Pipe Coating
9.Surface Treatment
10.Roofing

V.KINDSOFASPHALT

1.NATURALASPHALT(NATIVE)
-asphalt occurring in nature which has been derived
from petroleum by natural processes of evaporation
of volatile fractions leaving the asphalt fraction.

Ex. Rock Asphalt - porous rock such as sandstone or

limestone that has become
impregnated with natural asphalt
through geologic process.

Lake Asphalt - Lake deposits

2.MANUFACTUREDASPHALT
-asphalt from crude petroleum, crude petroleum is
refined and distilled to separate the various
fractions and recover the asphalt.
- such asphalt is produced in a variety of types and
grades ranging from hard brittle solids to almost
water-thin liquids.
- the semi-solid form, known as asphalt cement , is
the basic material.
See Figure : Petroleum Asphalt Flow Chart

VI.KINDSOFMANUFACTUREDASPHALTS
(ASPHALTICMATERIALS)
1.ASPHALTCEMENT

- asphalt that is refined to meet specifications for paving, industrial

and special purposes.
CHARACTERISTICS:

-the term is often abbreviated A. C.

-hot asphalt
-solid to semi-solid in consistency
-odorless
-black in color
-basic cementing material
-constituent of all other asphalt types
-penetration graded asphalt cement (5) :

Uses:
1. Item 303

- Bituminous Seal Coat

2. Item 304

- Bituminous Surface Treatment

3. Item 305

- Bituminous Penetration Macadam

Pavement

4. Item 310

- Bituminous Concrete Surface

Course, Hot-Laid

2.LIQUIDASPHALT
-liquid asphaltic product are generally prepared
by cutting back or blending asphalt cement with
petroleum distillates or by emulsifying them
with water.

--Soft or fluid in consistency

--Viscosity graded asphalt

KINDSOFLIQUIDASPHALT

2.1CUTBACKASPHALT
-asphalt cement which has been liquefied by blending with
petroleum solvents also called diluents (usually a minimum
of 55% of asphalt cement).

CHARACTERISTICS:
-liquid at room temperature
-characteristic smell of petroleum solvents as gasoline and
kerosene
-black in color

CLASSIFICATION:

2.1.1RAPIDCURING(RC)ASPHALT

Asphalt Cement + gasoline or naptha (light distillate- high volatility)

Viscosity Grades (4) : AASHTO M 81

RC

70

RC

250

RC

800

RC

3000

2.1.2MEDIUMCURING(MC)ASPHALT

Asphalt cement + kerosene (medium distillate medium volatility)

Viscosity Grades (5) : AASHTO M 82

MC

30

MC

70

MC

250

MC

800

MC

3000

2.1.3SLOW-CURING(SC)ASPHALT

Asphalt Cement + Oil (heavy distillate- low volatility)

Viscosity Grades (4) :

SC

70

SC

250

SC

800

SC

3000

Uses:

1.Item 301 - Bituminous Prime Coat

2.Item 302 - Bituminous Tack Coat (RC)
3.Item 303 - Bituminous Seal Coat
4.Item 304 - Bituminous Surface Treatment
5.Item 305 Bituminous Penetration MacadamPavement
6.Item 306 - Bituminous Road-Mix Surface Course
7. Item 308 - Bituminous Plant-Mix Surface Course, Cold-Laid
8. Item 309 - Bit. Plant-Mix (Stockpile Maintenance Mixture)
9. Item 310 - Bit. Concrete Surface Course, Hot-Laid

2.1ASPHALTEMULSION

- an emulsion of asphalt cement and water (usually 60% asphalt

and 40% water) which contains a small amount of an
emulsifying agent ( 1 2% emulsifier).

- a heterogeneous system containing two normally immiscible

phases (asphalt and water) in which the water forms the
continuous phase of the emulsion and minute globules of
asphalt form the discontinuous phase.

EMULSIFIEDASPHALT Asphalt Cement + Water + Emulsifier

EMULSIFIER- derivatives of salt (amine or sodium salt)

CHARACTERISTICS:

liquid at room temperature

pungent odor
chocolate brown in color

CLASSIFICATION:

emulsified asphalt maybe either the anionic or

cationic types depending upon the emulsifying
agent.

2.2.1ANIONICEMULSIFIEDASPHALT(-)

electro-negatively charged asphalt globules used for

limestone or calcareous aggregates.

ViscosityGrades(11):AASHTOM140

a. Rapid- Setting:

RS 1
RS - 2
HFRS 2

b. Medium Setting: MS - 1
MS - 2
MS - 2h
HFMS 1
HFMS - 2
HFMS - 2h

c. Slow Setting : HFMS - 2S

SS - 1
SS - 1h

2.2.2CATIONICEMULSIFIEDASPHALT(+)

-electro-positively charged asphalt globules used for

siliceous materials (silica/sand).

ViscosityGrades(6):AASHTOM208
a. Rapid-Setting: CRS - 1
CRS - 2

b. Medium-Setting: CMS 2
CMS 2h

c. Slow-Setting:

CSS - 1
CSS - 1h

Uses:
1. Item 205 Asphalt Stabilized Rd.-Mix Base Course
2. Item 302 Bituminous Tack Coat
3. Item 304 Bituminous Surface Treatment
4. Item 305 - Bituminous Penetration Macadam Pavement
5.Item 306 - Bituminous Rd.-Mix Surface Course
6.Item 308 - Bituminous Plant-Mix Surface Course Hot-Laid
7. Item 309 - Bituminous Plant-Mix (Stockpile Maintenance
Mixture)

3. BLOWNOROXIDIZEDASPHALT
-asphalt that is treated by blowing air through it at elevated
temperature to give it characteristics desired for certain
special uses.
-penetration grade : 0 to 30
Uses:
1.specially used as joint filler
2.roofing
3.pipe coating
4.under sealing Portland cement concrete pavement
5.waterproofing and other hydraulic application
6.lining of the canal

ASPHALT/CONCRETEJOINTSEALER/FILLER

TYPES:

1.hot-poured elastic type

2.preformed

I.HOT-POUREDELASTICTYPE:
SPECIFICATION:

AASHTOM173:ConcreteJoint-Sealer,

PouredElasticType
-intended for use in sealing joints or filling cracks in
concrete pavements, bridges and other structure

-resilient and adhesive material capable of effectively

sealing joints in concrete against the infiltration of moisture
and foreign material throughout repeated cycles of
expansion and contraction with temperature changes and
that will not flow from the joint or be picked up by vehicle
tires at summer temperature.

Tests

Specs

1. Safe heating temperature

2. Pour Point Temperature

3. Flow

5.0 mm (max.)

4. Penetration

90 (max.)

II.Preformed

PreformedExpansionJointFillers

-consists of preformed sheets or strips made of

cane or other suitable fibers of a cellular
cellulosic nature securely bound together and
then uniformly saturated with asphalt.

-or strips formed from clean granulated cork

securely bound together by a suitable asphalt
binder and encased between two layers of
saturated felt or two layers of glass fiber felt.
-premolded strips of asphalt mixed with fine
mineral substances, fibrous materials, cork,
sawdust etc. manufactured in dimension
suitable for construction joints.

SPECIFICATIONS:

AASHTOM153:Preformed Sponge Rubber and Cork Expansion

Joint Fillers for Concrete Paving and Structural
Construction

AASHTOM123:Preformed Expansion Joint Fillers For Concrete

Paving and Structural Construction (Non Extruding
and Resilient Bituminous Type)

AASHTOM33:Preformed Expansion Joint Filler for Concrete

(Bituminous Type)

Nominal Thickness of Joint, mm (in.)

Absorption, % (Max.)

25 (1)

2.5

19 (3/4)

13 (1/2)

9.5 (1/8)

Expansion Joint filler having a nominal thickness of less

than 9.5 mm (1/8) shall not be subjected to a
requirement for water absorption.

For nominal thickness of 13 mm (1/2 in.) and over, shall

absorb not more than 15 percent by volume in 24 hours
and 20 percent by volume for all other thickness.

Blue Book : DPWHStandardSpecifications(1995)

Item705:JointMaterials

VII.SAMPLING/MINIMUMTESTINGREQUIREMENTS
SIGNIFICANCE:

1.1Sampling is an important as testing and every precaution

shall be taken to obtain samples that will show the true
nature and condition of the materials.
1.2Samples may be taken :
1.2.1

To represent as nearly as possible an average of

the bulk of the material sampled or

1.2.2To ascertain the maximum variation in

characteristics which the material possesses.

1.SIZEOFSAMPLESFORROUTINELAB.
TESTS:

AsphalticMaterials:

4liters(1gal.)

Asphalt Cement
Cut-back Asphalt
Emulsified Asphalt
Joint Sealer
Preformed Expansion Joint Filler = 16 x 16

2.MINIMUMTESTINGREQUIREMENTS:

AsphalticMatls.:1-Q.T. for every 40 M.T. or 200

Drums or fraction thereof

Preformed Expansion Joint Filler/Sealer: 1-QT per

shipment of 93 square meters (1000 sq. ft.) or fraction
thereof

4.CONTAINERS
TYPESOFCONTAINERS:
4.1 Containers for liquid bituminous material samples,
except emulsions, shall be double friction top cans,
square cans with screw tops, or small mouth cans
with screw caps.
4.2 Containers for anionic emulsified asphalt samples
shall be widemouth jars or bottles made of glass or
plastic.
4.3Containers for cationic emulsified asphalt samples
shall be widemouth jars or bottles made of plastic or
widemouth cans with screw caps.

5.PROTECTIONANDPRESERVATIONOFSAMPLES
5.1Sample containers shall be new. They shall not be washed or
rinsed or wiped with oily cloth. Top and container shall fit
together tightly.
5.2Care shall be taken to prevent the sample from becoming
contaminated. Immediately after filling, the containers shall be
tightly and positively sealed.
5.3The filled sample container shall not be submerged in solvent
nor shall it wiped with a solvent saturated cloth. If cleaning is
necessary use a clean dry cloth.
5.4Samples of emulsion shall be protected from freezing by correct
packaging.

5.5Transferring samples from one container to

another shall be avoided it possible, as
characteristics of materials could be
altered during transfer and there is a
possibility of contamination.

5.6Immediately after filling, sealing and

cleaning, the sampling containers shall be
properly marked for identification with a
suitable marking pencil on the container
itself, not on the lid.

VIII.TESTINGOFASPHALT

1.ASPHALTCEMENT(9tests)

1.1Specific Gravity
1.2Loss on heating (Thin-Film Oven Test)
1.3Solubility
1.4Spot Test
1.5Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup Flash Tester)
1.6Penetration
1.6.1 Original
1.6.2After loss
1.7 Ductility
1.7.1Original
1.7.2After loss

2.CUTBACKASPHALT(8tests)
2.1Specific Gravity
2.2Flash Point (Tag Open Cup Flash Tester)
2.3Viscosity (Kinematic Capillary Viscometer)
2.4Distillation
2.5Test on residue
2.5.1

Penetration

2.5.2Ductility
2.5.3Solubility
2.5.4Spot Test

3.EMULSIFIEDASPHALT(9tests)

3.1Specific Gravity
3.2Storage Stability
3.3Sieve Test
3.4Viscosity (Saybolt-Furol Viscometer)
3.5Cement Mixing
3.6Distillation
3.7Test on Residue
3.7.1Penetration
3.7.2Ductility
3.7.3Solubility

IX.SIGNIFICANCEOFTESTS
1.SPECIFICGRAVITY
a. it is a gauge to a uniformity of supply of an asphalt (if it is being
adulterated or diluted).
b. important during computation and design (Job Mix) essentials
in
the determination of the effective asphalt content and the
percentage of air voids in compacted mix specimens and
compacted pavement.
c. results is of value for making volume correction when
measurements are made at elevated temperature

2.SOLUBILITY
a. determines the bitumen content in asphalt cement that is soluble
in a solvent (carbon disulfide and carbon tetrachloride).
b. measures the purity of the asphalt cement.
c.

(portion of the asphalt cement that is soluble represent the

active cementing constituents).

d. (impurities such as salts, free carbon and non-organic

contaminants does not dissolve in a solvent).

3.SPOTTEST
- determines if asphalts is overheated or not during production.

4.LOSSOFHEATING
- determines the loss of volatiles in the asphalt.

5.FLASHPOINT
- indicates the safe heating temperature of the asphalt, the
temperature to which the material maybe safely heated without
danger of instantaneous flash (catching fire or explode) in the
presence of an open flame.

6. PENETRATION
- determines the relative hardness or consistency of an asphalt
cement, by measuring the distance of the standard needle used
that penetrate vertically to the sample under the fixed condition of
temperature, load and time.

7. DUCTILITY
- measures the ability of asphalt to stretch without breaking.
- a gauge to adhesiveness of asphalt, the higher the ductility the
more adhesive the asphalt.

8.VISCOSITY
- liquidity or fluidity of asphalt
- consistency test of the liquid asphalt
- determines the flow characteristics of asphalts in the range of
temperature during application.

9.DISTILLATION
- determines the relative proportions of asphalt and diluent present
in liquid asphalt.
- also used to measure the amount of diluent that distills off at
various temperature denoting its evaporation characteristics, this in
turn, indicates the relative rate at which the material will cure after
application.

10.SIEVETEST
- determines quantitatively the percent asphalt present in the form of
relatively large globules in the emulsion. Such globules do not
provide thin & uniform coatings of asphalt on the aggregate
particles.
- determines whether the emulsion has properly emulsified (properly
mixed).

11.CEMENTMIXING
- determines the resistance of the emulsion to breakdown
on
the job.
- determines the rate where in the emulsion will break when
in contact with soil or mineral aggregates.

12.STORAGESTABILITY
- defects the tendency of the asphalt globules in the
emulsion to settle during storage of an emulsified asphalt.

X.SPECIFICATIONS:
AASHTOM-20-Penetration Graded Asphalt Cement
AASHTOM-81- Cut-back Asphalt (Rapid-Curing Type)
AASHTOM-82 Cut-back Asphalt (Medium-Curing Type)
AASHTOM-140- Emulsified Asphalt (Anionic)
AASHTOM-208- Emulsified Asphalt (Cationic)