What is Bitumen?
Bitumen, also known as asphalt, is a sticky, black and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is a solid or semi-solid at ambient temperatures and consists mainly of highly condensed polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. In natural deposits, bitumen is known as tar, which is essentially bitumen that has seeped and surfaced naturally without any alteration or processing. Bitumen is found in many places around the world in different forms and its properties depend upon its geological history.
Sources and Reserves of Bitumen
Nearly all Bitumen reserves are contained in oil sands, also known as tar sands or Extra Heavy Oil. Canada possesses the largest deposits and third largest reserves of oil worldwide in the form of massive oil sands mostly located in northern Alberta. Venezuela has the world's largest recognized oil reserves in Orinoco oil sands belt. Other major deposits are located in Kazakhstan, Russia, and United States. Global bitumen reserves are estimated at over 2 trillion barrels, with over 170 billion barrels recoverable from Canadian oil sands alone. Commercial extraction of bitumen is mainly carried out through opencast mining and in-situ techniques.
Uses of Bitumen in Road Construction
The primary use of bitumen is in road construction where it is used as a binder and waterproofing agent. Asphalt or bitumen is mixed with aggregate materials like sand, gravel or shattered rock to form asphalt concrete that provides excellent weather resistance and strength characteristics for roads and pavements. Bitumen's naturally adhesive properties impart cohesion between aggregates and prevent water and air penetration into the underlying layers. About 90% of the world's bitumen production is used for road construction and maintenance due to its durability, flexibility and lower maintenance costs compared to concrete or brick surfaces.
Bitumen as Waterproofing Agent
Another major use of bitumen is as a waterproofing agent in construction. Molten bitumen is used for waterproofing flat rooftops and terraces. Bitumen emulsion or mastic asphalt formulation provide lasting waterproof linings for basements, bathrooms, roofs, and tunnels. Bitumen membranes are widely used for below ground waterproofing applications since its flexible nature can withstand minor settlement movements without damage. Impervious layers of bitumen coatings protects foundations and retaining walls from water moisture intrusion. Hot applied bitumen damp proof courses in walls efficiently check rising dampness in buildings.
Applications in Industrial Sector
Industrial sector utilizes bitumen for various applications due to its adhesive and sealing properties. Bitumen acts as an excellent binder in industrial coatings used for metal protections, soundproofing materials and insulation sheets. Manufacturing of gutters, downpipes, and water tanks involving soldering or welding makes extensive use of bitumen compounds. Bitumen emulsions are applied on aggregate surfaces to form water-resistant industrial flooring in factories, warehouses. It is also used a sound dampening agent in door seals and automotive brake pads/shoes to reduce noise pollution. Other niche applications include adhesives, carbon paper, copy paper and insect/bacteria repellents.
Use as a Fuel and Insulator
Solid bitumen in form of Coal Tar Pitch is used for fuel production. Mined bitumen sources with high sulfur and metals content also serves as refinery feedstock. Vacuum distillation of crude oil (residual oil) produces heavy fractions like Bunker C Fuel Oil, which finds application as industrial boiler fuel in power plants and ships. Properties like chemical stability, electrical resistance and water barrier makes bitumen suitable for power cable insulation covering. It is a common component in flexible insulators manufactured for high and extra high voltage overhead power lines. Bitumen based coal tar insulation provide corrosion protection and withstand thermal expansion/contraction for buried pipelines.
Bitumen Additives and Advancements
To enhance its performance and meet varied end-user specifications, bitumen is subjected to physical and chemical modifications by addition of polymer additives. Styrene-Butadiene-Styrene (SBS), Styrene-Ethylene-Butylene-Styrene (SEBS) modifiers are commonly used bitumen additives that significantly improve bitumen binder flexibility and elasticity at low temperatures. Modified bitumens exhibit aggregate adhesion, high softening point, fatigue endurance and rutting resistance desirable for heavy traffic roads under different climatic conditions. Advancements in extraction and upgrading technologies have opened up new frontiers in substituting fossil-based bitumen with bio-bitumen derivate from renewable biomass resources. Overall, bitumen remains one of the most widely used binding and waterproofing materials globally due to its versatile applications.
Get This Report in Japanese Language - アスファルト市場
Get This Report in Korean Language - 비투멘 시장
About Author:
Vaagisha brings over three years of expertise as a content editor in the market research domain. Originally a creative writer, she discovered her passion for editing, combining her flair for writing with a meticulous eye for detail. Her ability to craft and refine compelling content makes her an invaluable asset in delivering polished and engaging write-ups.
(LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vaagisha-singh-8080b91)
Comments
0 comment