Australian Grade Bitumen Description

Australian Grade bitumen, known for its versatility and reliability, encompasses a range of grades tailored to meet specific project requirements. Bitumen is used to build and maintain the majority of high-performance roads in Australia because it is long-lasting and has excellent waterproofing and adhesion capabilities. Bitumen used in road construction and maintenance are refined and blended to fulfill rigorous road engineering and industry standards. Paving grade bitumen are graded based on their viscosity (degree of fluidity). Bitumen becomes firmer as the slope increases.

Australian Grade Bitumen Classifications

C170

C170 is one of the most commonly used bitumen grades in Australia for its moderate softness and versatility. It is ideal for road surfacing in areas with mild to moderate climates and light to medium traffic conditions. Its flexibility helps prevent cracking and, thus, is suitable for applications where slight movement or thermal expansion is expected. C170 finds wide applications in general paving and sealing applications, thus offering a good balance of workability and performance.

C240

C240 bitumen provides a bit higher stiffness than C170, which makes it resistant to deformation under heavier loads or higher temperatures. It can also be applied in moderate to warm climatic regions on roads with medium to heavy traffic flow. Due to the increased viscosity, it ensures better performances on areas that require the pavement to bear higher stress, such as junctions or highways. This grade represents an improvement in durability with reasonable flexibility.

C320

C320 is considered the medium-hard grade of bitumen, intended for heavy-duty applications and roads that have high traffic intensity. This performs well in warmer climates where softer bitumen deforms under load. Because of this, it offers better resistance to rutting and wear, making it suitable for usage on highways, urban roads, and other pavements with heavy traffic. Higher viscosity and durability also make it quite suitable for application in asphalt mixes that require long-lasting performance.

C450

C450 is a premium performance bitumen with enhanced rigidity for very hot or very heavy load conditions. Due to its rigid nature, it has high resistance to deformation, cracking, and rutting when stressed. It finds application in industrial areas or specific road structures such as airports, freight routes, or heavy-load zones. Its reduced flexibility is compensated by an increased resistance to loads and temperature.

C600

C600 is the hardest grade of bitumen in this classification, especially developed for extreme conditions and heavy industrial use. Its resistance to deformation under very high temperatures or loads is very high, thus making it suitable for heavy-duty pavements such as port facilities, container yards, and roads with a high load of truck traffic on a sustained basis. Due to its high viscosity, C600 also finds an application in special jobs that require maximum stiffness with very limited deformation. This class is used scarcely in normal roadworks but is a must for any infrastructure work that requires high durability.

Choose the Correct Grade

Choosing the right bitumen grade is critical to the success of any construction project. Traffic volume, temperature conditions, and pavement characteristics must all be carefully considered when determining the best grade for a given application. Consulting with industry experts and completing extensive assessments can aid in the selection of the best grade for the job at hand.

Storage & Handling of Australian Grades Bitumen

The storage of bitumen for prolonged periods at elevated temperatures should be avoided as quality may be adversely affected. As a general rule, bitumen should be stored at the lowest temperature that enables practical use.

For normal operations, such as blending and transferring liquid bitumen, temperatures of 10°C to 40°C above the minimum pumping temperature is recommended.

Australian Grade Bitumen meets international standards in terms of performance and quality to carry out road works. It is primarily governed by AS 2008, the specification guideline of bitumen and bituminous roadworks construction materials. Another specification guideline by AS/NZS 2341 outlines procedures to be followed while carrying out the properties testing of bitumen with respect to its viscosity, softening point, and penetration. Grading in terms of performance is typically with AASHTO M 320 to allow the bitumen to function within varying climatic conditions. Environment and quality requirements like ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 are similarly essential in determining high-quality production as well as sustainability.

Supplier of Australian Grades Bitumen

Australian grade bitumen, noted for its high quality and performance, is widely utilized in road construction and industrial applications due to its resilience to different climates and traffic situations.

Key grades such as C170, C240, C320, C450, and C600 meet a wide range of applications, from moderate traffic regions to heavy-duty infrastructures. ZUMRUT KIMYA INTERNATIONAL proudly supplies these premium bitumen grades, providing stability, dependability, and conformance to Australian standards for a wide range of applications worldwide.

Specification