• 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Matadi

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Douala

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Cebu

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Manila

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Chennai

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Cochin

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Haldia

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Kandla

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Kolkata

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Mundra

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Nhava Sheva

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Dalian

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Hong Kong

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Taicang

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Brisbane

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Ho Chi Minh

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Kaohsiung

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Durban

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Djibouti

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Yangon

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Port Klang

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Mombasa

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Jakarta

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CFR Belawan

  • 60/70 (Drum)-CIF Navegantes

Penetration Grade Bitumen

Infinity Galaxy Penetration Bitumen
August 6, 2019
3 minutes

Penetration grade bitumen, known also as paving grade bitumen, is unique for road construction in various environmental conditions. These grades of bitumen are named due to their level of hardness and consistency, which leads to the classification of bitumen in a range of grades from 30 to 120.

The main goal for grading bitumen based on penetration is to determine their suitability for use in various construction methods and under different climatic conditions.

Classification of Penetration Grade Bitumen

PEN grades are classified based on the depth into which a certain laboratory needle penetrates them. A penetration test is performed to indicate the hardness of bitumen.

If the achieved figures were high, the tested bitumen is soft. It means that the needle has penetrated in more depth.

On the contrary, lower figures show that the tested bitumen is hard and the penetration depth is shallow. For instance, when we say bitumen 60/70, the first number stands for minimum penetration, and the second one stands for maximum penetration.

The most popular bitumen pen grades include:

Among all penetration grades bitumen, bitumen 85/100 is the softest, and bitumen 40/50 is the hardest one.

Check Out the different grades of bitumen post to learn more about other bitumen grades and types like viscosity grade bitumen and liquid bitumen.

Penetration Grade Bitumen Specifications

Below you can find specification of various types of penetration bitumen:

Bitumen Penetration Grade 30/40 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.06
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 30 40
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 51 60
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.5
Drop in Penetration after Heating ASTM D5 % 20
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99.5
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 35/50 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.06
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 35 50
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 52 60
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.2
Drop in Penetration after Heating ASTM D5 % 20
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 40/50 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.06
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 40 50
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 52 60
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.2
Drop in Penetration after Heating ASTM D5 % 20
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 50/70 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s EN 1426 0.1mm 50 70
Softening Point EN 1427 °C 46 54
Kinematic Viscosity@135 °C EN 12595 CST 295
Penetration Index EN12591 mm -1.5 + 0.7
Flash Point EN 2592 °C 230
Solubility in Toluene or Xylene EN 12592 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 60/70 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.06
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 60 70
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 49 56
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.2
Drop in Penetration after Heating ASTM D5 % 20
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 70/100 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C EN 15326 1.01 1.05
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s EN 1426 0.1mm 70 100
Softening Point EN 1427 °C 43 53
Ductility at 25 °C EN 13589 cm 100
Loss on Heating EN 12607 wt.% 0.5
Flash Point EN 2592 °C 225
Solubility in Trichloroethylene EN 12592 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 80/100 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.05
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 80 100
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 42 52
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.5
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 225
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 85/100 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.05
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 85 100
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 42 52
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.5
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 225
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 100/120 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.04
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 100 120
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 42 49
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.2
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 wt.% 99.5
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Bitumen Penetration Grade 200/300 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.06
Penetration at 25 °C ASTM D5 0.1mm 200 300
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 35 43
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 230
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2024 wt.% 99
After Thin Film Oven Test (TFOT)
Penetration ASTM D2872 46
Change of Mass ASTM D2872 wt.% 0.8
Softening Point ASTM D2872 11

Bitumen Penetration Grade 100/130 Specifications
Specification Test Method Unit Min. Max.
Specific Gravity at 25 °C ASTM D70 1.01 1.04
Penetration at 25 °C, 100g, 5s ASTM D5 0.1mm 100 130
Softening Point ASTM D36 °C 42 49
Ductility at 25 °C ASTM D113 cm 100
Loss on Heating ASTM D6 wt.% 0.2
Flash Point ASTM D92 °C 250
Solubility in Trichloroethylene ASTM D2042 %WT 99.5
Spot Test AASHTO T102 Negative

Penetration Grade Bitumen Uses

Bitumen penetration grades are mainly used in the manufacturing of hot mix asphalt for road base and wearing courses.

Read the article about different types of bitumen that can be used in road construction to know more about types of bitumen that can be used in prime coat, tack coat and other layers.

To choose among various grades of bitumen penetration, many factors should be taken into account, including, the average temperature of the region, the level of traffic loads, and the type of soil.

The higher the penetration grade, the softer the bitumen. So 80/100 is much softer than 40/50. Soft bitumen is more suitable for soils with high particle density such as clay. On the other hand, high penetration graded bitumen works better for soils with low particle density.

Air temperature is another crucial factor in selecting penetration grade. If you are paving a road in a very cold or even hot region, be careful. If the bitumen is too soft or hard in the environment temperature, the possibility of cracking or deformation increases.

Therefore, soft bitumen performs better in cold climates and hard bitumen works better in hot climates.

Considering the traffic load is also necessary when it comes to penetration grades. Softer grades like 60/70 show more durability exposing to heavy traffic loads. Accordingly, lower grades are used for paving roads with high traffic loads.

Before using penetration grade bitumen, pay attention to test results and other factors such as penetration gradeflash pointsoftening pointductility, and specific gravity

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