Cutback Bitumen
Cutback Bitumen is utilized in the paving and building of roads. To make it more fluid and practical to deal with, bitumen has been dissolved in a solvent, usually kerosene or gasoline.
Cutback bitumen has several advantages over conventional bitumen, one of which being the ability to be utilized at lower temperatures. It is therefore perfect for usage in cold climates, where conventional bitumen would become too stiff to handle. A sprayer can also be used to apply cutback bitumen, enabling more effective and uniform coverage.
Cutback Bitumen Classification
Cutback asphalt bitumen is classified based on the type of solvent used in the cutback process and the viscosity of the resulting mixture. The two main classifications are:
- Rapid curing (RC) cutback bitumen: This type of cutback bitumen uses a solvent that evaporates quickly, allowing the bitumen to set and cure rapidly. The viscosity of RC cutback bitumen is typically low, making it easy to work with and apply.
- Slow curing (SC) cutback bitumen: This type of cutback bitumen uses a solvent that evaporates slowly, resulting in a longer curing time. The viscosity of SC cutback bitumen is typically higher than RC cutback bitumen, making it more difficult to work with and apply.
In addition to these two main classifications, there are also medium curing (MC) cutback bitumens, which are a mixture of RC and SC cutbacks to provide a balance of low viscosity and long curing time.
The choice of Cutback asphalt bitumen classification depends on the specific requirements of the project. For example, if a quick set and cure time is needed, then an RC cutback bitumen would be the best choice, while a SC cutback bitumen would be suitable for a project that requires a longer curing time.