Oxidized Bitumen (Blown Bitumen)

August 6, 2019
7 minutes

Oxidized Bitumen is a type of bitumen that obtains from blowing air to the pure bitumen. It has a lower penetration grade and more softening point in comparison to pure bitumen.

Based on its softening point and penetration grade, it classifies into three types of low, medium and hard oxidized bitumen. 

To know more about oxidized bitumen, read this article.

Oxidized Bitumen Production Process

This type of bitumen obtains from the blowing hot air with a temperature of 200 to 300 degree Celsius to the penetration grade bitumen in the reactor of BBU of the refinery.

Hydrogen atoms of bitumen react with oxygen atoms of air when heated with hot air in the reactor. Then it generates some steam that should be removed from the oxidation chamber. Consequently, the bitumen remains. 

Oxidized Bitumen Grades

This type of bitumen has many grades. Low oxidized bitumen grades are R75/25, R75/30, R85/25, R85/40, R95/25, R90/40. Medium grades are R90/10, R90/15 and hard oxidized bitumen including R115/15, R110/15, R105/5, R105/15, R105/35 and R150/5.


What is the Meaning of These Numbers?

The asphaltene in this bitumen is polymerized due to blowing air and makes this bitumen rubbery. Based on this rubber property, this bitumen is called Rubberized Bitumen and the letter R shows this.

These numbers show the softening point and penetration grade. For example, R75/25 tells that the softening point is 75, and the penetration grade of this bitumen is 25.

You can read more about oxidized bitumen applications and some of these grade’s specifications below.

Oxidized Bitumen Applications

It has many applications, including road construction, hydropower projects, roofing, flooring, mastics, oil and gas industry and electrical applications.

Roads: this type of bitumen is suitable for road construction, paving and road maintenance. It can be used as an additive with a binder in different asphalts in roads, highways, railroads and parking.

If you are interested in knowing about different types of bitumen that are used in road’s asphalt, read the article Types of Bitumen Used for Road Construction.

Hydro projects: One of the canal lining’s material is oxidized bitumen. This type of bitumen can be used in other hydro projects like embankment and dam construction, hydraulic structures, dam lining protection and sand stabilization

Roofing: oxidized bitumen can be used in roofing felts, shingle roofs, damp proof coating compositions, carriage roofing compounds, liquid roof coatings and plastic cement. Generally speaking, it is the best choice for roof waterproofing.

Flooring: one of the main uses of oxidized bitumen is flooring. Acid and alkali proof bitumen mastic can be used in chemical plants, fertilizer plants, steel plants and many other plants to protect the surface from corrosion. It can also fix the parquet of floors.

Oil and gas industry: besides the MC30 Bitumen, this type of bitumen is very common in the oil and gas industry to coat the pipelines to protect pipes from corrosion and rust.

Electrical industry: oxidized bitumen is adhesive for laminated boards. It can seal the electrical junction boxes. It can be used in the cable industry in Lithium-ion batteries and wires.

Oxidized Bitumen Advantages

The main advantages of oxidized bitumen is as below:

  • High durability
  • High flexibility
  • Completely water resistant
  • Chemical stability

Oxidized Bitumen Specification

Among these bitumen, the most widely used oxidized or blown bitumen in the market is R85/25 that its softening point is 85 and its penetration grade is 25.

Oxidized bitumen 85/40 is popular in some European countries like Denmark, Norway, Finland and Sweden.

The standard test methods used to obtain each property is as below:


Oxidized Bitumen 75/30 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D520/40
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3660/80
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92260 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1131.5 min
Oxidized Bitumen 85/25 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D510/30
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3670/90
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1133 min
Oxidized Bitumen 85/40 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D525/45
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3670/90
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92260 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1133 min
Oxidized Bitumen 90/40 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D525/45
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3675/95
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1135.5 min
Oxidized Bitumen 95/25 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D510/30
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3680/100
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1131.5 min
Oxidized Bitumen 90/10 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D55/25
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3675/95
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1131.5 min
Oxidized Bitumen 90/15 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.05
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D55/25
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D3675/95
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1133 min
Oxidized Bitumen 115/15 Specifications
SpecificationTest MethodRange
Specific Gravity @25 C, ( kg/m3)ASTM D701.06
Penetration@25 C, ( 0.1mm)ASTM D55/25
Softening Point C, ( C)ASTM D36100/120
Loss on Heating(WT)%, ( WT%)ASTM D60.2 max
Flash Point C, ( C)ASTM D92250 min
Solubility in CS2 ( WT) %ASTM D204280% min
Ductility@25 CASTM D1131.5 min
Specification of Oxidized Bitumen 125/5
CharacteristicsTest MethodUnitResult
Specific Gravity at 25°CASTM D70°C1.05
Penetration at 25°C, 100g, 5sASTM D5mm5/25
Softening PointASTM D36°C120/140
Ductility at 25°CASTM D113Cm1.5 min
Flash pointASTM D92°C250 min
Solubility in TrichloroethyleneASTM D2042%80% min
Loss on heating (wt) %ASTM D6Wt. %0.2 max
Specification of Oxidized Bitumen 135/5
CharacteristicsTest MethodUnitResult
Specific Gravity at 25°CASTM D70°C1.05
Penetration at 25°C, 100g, 5sASTM D5mm5/25
Softening PointASTM D36°C130/150
Ductility at 25°CASTM D113Cm1.5 min
Flash pointASTM D92°C260 min
Solubility in TrichloroethyleneASTM D2042%80% min
Loss on heating (wt) %ASTM D6Wt. %0.2 max

Would you like to know how these parameters can be obtained? Read the bitumen tests page.

Oxidized Bitumen Packing

Oxidized Bitumen has different types of bitumen packing:

  1. Cartoon  
  2. Cartoon-pallet-shrink  
  3. Poly Amide 
  4. Polyester 

Highly Demanded Bitumen Block Packing in Malaysia

Oxidized Bitumen Carton
oxidized packing Polyester

If you are looking for more details about bitumen block packing, we recommend you to read the oxidized bitumen packing page to get more information.

Infinity Galaxy, Oxidized Bitumen Supplier

Infinity Galaxy, as an oxidized bitumen supplier, started its own activity in 2012. Our team in Infinity Galaxy tries to present high-quality blown bitumen at a suitable price.

We have exported this type of Bitumen to more than 30 countries all over the world. If you require to use oxidized bitumen to meet your needs, you can contact us.

Surely our sales team can provide you with your required blown bitumen. You can also fill out the form below to register your order.



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    August 6, 2019
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