The vast majority of bitumen uses, approximately 85 %, is in road construction. It can also be used in other cases including Waterproofing, Roofing and Coating. Generally, bitumen can be used in more than 7 fields which includes more than 130 applications.
In the article below, we will clarify different uses of bitumen.
General Bitumen Uses
The main bitumen applications are as below:
Road Construction:
In road construction bitumen can be used in hot mix asphalt and cold mix asphalt on the road surface.
Both of these two types of asphalts are used in flexible pavement.
In hot mix asphalt, paving grades bitumen which are penetration grade and viscosity grade are used.
All types of bitumen including Penetration Grades, Viscosity Grades, Oxidized Bitumen and liquid bitumen can be used in road construction.
You can read more about bitumen application in road construction in the article Different Types of Bitumen in Road Construction.
Waterproofing:
Bitumen is used in the waterproofing process and rust-proof coating.
In the waterproofing process it can be used in different forms of bituminous paint, bituminous membrane and bituminous coating to prevent water penetration into the surfaces. You can read the article Use of Bitumen in Waterproofing to know more details.
In the rust-proof coating on the metals, it prevents the penetration of air and moisture to the surfaces.
Damp-proof Courses:
Bitumen is used as a thin course on the building foundation or between the bricks in a building structure.
In the rainy weather, the soil absorbs the water and it can damage the building. Damp proof courses are used on the building foundations most of the time and they prevent the attraction of water from the soil.
Damp proof courses avoid moisture from entering the inner spaces of the building. Liquid bitumen like bitumen emulsion and pure bitumen like bitumen penetration grade are suitable for damp proofing courses.
Roofing:
Bitumen is used in insulation of flat roofs, terraces and balconies. In many parts of Asia such as Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand where the weather is rainy most of the time, there is a special type of roofing called shingle roofs. In this type of roofing, oxidized bitumen is commonly used.
Coating:
In many industries like the oil and gas industry, to protect the pipelines from corrosion, bitumen is applied as a thin layer on the steel pipes and covers their surfaces.
Generally, bituminous coating is a good way to make the metal and steel surfaces resistant to chemical degradation and increase the life of the outer layer of pipes and surfaces. Cutback bitumen is a good choice for coating.
Canal Lining:
Canal lining with bitumen consists of spraying a layer of bitumen at high temperature on the prepared subgrade. For canal lining, both pure bitumen and bituminous felt can be used.
Tank Foundation:
The mixture of bitumen and sand should be poured on the tank foundation. This mixture can make the tank foundation resistant to corrosion and prevent it from weathering.
Joint Filling:
Bitumen is used to fill joints between slabs in masonry work. It has the ability to expand and contract, which makes this material suitable to fill the joints in the construction of runways, roads and buildings.
Bituminous Paint:
Bituminous paint prevents corrosion and waterproofs the surface of the iron, metal, concrete and cement. In bituminous paint, the bitumen is diluted with naphtha.
Other Applications of Bitumen
Bitumen has a wide range of applications that we have written in the following table. In some fields it can be used independently, but in some cases, some processes should be done on it before using it.
| Field | Applications |
| Agriculture |
Disinfectants Fence post coating Mulches Mulching paper Paved barn floors, barnyards, feed platforms Protecting tanks, vats Protection for concrete structures Tree paints (protective) |
| Buildings and Industrial Paving | Water and moisture barriers (above and below ground) Floor compositions, tiles, coverings Insulating fabrics, papers Step treads Building papers Caulking compounds Cement waterproofing compounds Glass wool compositions Insulating fabrics, felts, papers Joint filler compounds Laminated roofing shingles Liquid roof coatings Plastic cements Shingles Acoustical blocks, compositions, felts Bricks Damp-proofing coatings, compositions Insulating board, fabrics, felts, paper Masonry coatings Bitumen Paint Plasterboards Putty Soundproofing Stucco base Wallboard Air-drying paints, varnishes Artificial timber Ebonised timber Insulating paints Plumbing, pipes Treated awnings Canal linings, sealants |
| Hydraulic Erosion Control | Catchment areas, basins Dam groutings Dam linings, protection Dyke protection Ditch linings Drainage gutters, structures Embankment protection Groynes Jetties Levee protection Mattresses for levee and bank protection Membrane linings, waterproofing Reservoir linings Revetments Sand dune stabilization Sewage lagoons, oxidation ponds Swimming pools Waste ponds Water barriers Backed felts |
| Industrial | Conduit insulation, lamination Insulating boards Paint compositions Papers Pipe wrapping Insulating felts Panel boards Underseal Battery boxes, carbons Electrical insulating compounds, papers, tapes, wire coatings Junction box compound Moulded conduits Black grease Buffing compounds Embalming Etching compositions Extenders Explosives Lap cement Plasticisers Preservatives Printing inks Well drilling fluid Armored bituminised fabrics Burlap impregnation Mildew prevention Sawdust, cork, asphalt composition Acid-proof enamels, mastics, varnishes Acid-resistant coatings Air-drying paints, varnishes Anti-corrosive and anti-fouling paints Anti-oxidants and solvents Base for solvent compositions Baking and heat-resistant enamels Boat deck sealing compound Japanese Lacquers Marine enamels Blasting fuses Briquette binders Burial vaults Casting moulds Clay articles Clay pigeons Expansion joints Flowerpots Foundry cores Friction tape Gaskets Mirror backing Rubber, moulded compositions Shoe fillers, soles |
| Railways | Ballast treatment Dust laying Paved ballast, sub-ballast Paved crossings, freight yards, station platforms |
| Recreation | Dance pavilions Drive-in movies Gymnasiums, sport arenas Playgrounds, school yards Race tracks Running tracks Skating rinks Swimming and wading pools Tennis courts, handball courts Synthetic playing fields and running track surfaces |
