Description Performance Grade (PG) Bitumen
Performance grade (PG) bitumen is graded based on its performance at different temperatures. Long Term Pavement Performance (LTPP) has provided a specific algorithm to calculate pavement temperature based on elevated air temperature.
PG asphalt bider
In the Superpave grading system, binders are classified based on their performance in extreme hot and cold temperatures, and performance grade bitumen is graded based on its performance at different temperatures. The main purpose of grading and selecting asphalt binder using the PG system This is to ensure that the binder has suitable properties for the environmental conditions in the field. PG asphalt binders are selected according to the expected weather conditions as well as traffic volume and speed regulation. Therefore, the PG system uses a series of tests to measure binder physical properties that can be directly related to field performance in the pavement situation.
Performance Grade (PG) Bitumen
The PG grading system is defined by two numbers, representing the pavement temperatures. The first number (ex: PG 64-XX) represents the highest pavement temperature in Celsius, while the second number (ex: PG XX-22) represents the lowest. Note that these numbers are pavement temperatures, not the air temperatures (these pavement temperatures are derived from air temperatures using an algorithm included in the LTPP Bind program). The high temperature is related to the effects of rutting and the low temperature relates to cold results such as fatigue cracking.
Performance Grading Should consider the actual conditions of different paving projects, since it’s dominantly used for paving, such as strain relationship under the field load, traffic speed and volume and the pavement structure.
Performance Grading importance
Usually, in performance grading, criteria such as:
Stress-strain relationships under filed loading should be described, and in addition to that, pavement conditions such as temperature, traffic speed, traffic volume, and pavement structure should be considered
Variables affecting the choice of binder
When you want to choosing a binder, variables such as air temperature, pavement temperature (maximum and minimum), traffic speed, pavement structure in terms of its strength or weakness, and tension and pressure should be taken into consideration.
Select base grade based upon
Geographic Area including air temperature and pavement temperature are important factor to select, also traffic speed and traffic Volume are effective factors.
Application of Performance Grade Bitumen
Bitumen PG52-28
Is dominantly used in paving for both new construction and road care and also in both dense-graded and open graded Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). This product could also be used for sealing cracks in paving and also the edges. Other applications include spraying in places like bridge deck and pavement protective membrane with fabrics.
Bitumen PG58-22
Is initially used in paving for both dense-graded and open graded Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and also in road construction usages as well as spraying and crack sealing applications.
Bitumen PG grade PG58-28
Is initially used in paving for both dense-graded and open graded Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) and also in road construction usages as well as spraying and crack sealing applications. This grade is widely used in very cold areas.
Bitumen PG58-34
Is generally used in the higher elevation roadways. This grade is a paving asphalt cement dominantly used for the production of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). It could also be used for sealing the edges of new to old paving and cracks sealing.
Bitumen PG58-40
Is primarily used on the high elevation locations. This grade is paving asphalt for the production of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). It can be easily used for sealing purposes and crack treating as well.
Bitumen viscosity grade PG64-22
Bitumen PG64-22 is a type of paving grade bitumen commonly used in road construction and maintenance. It is a polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) that has been modified with polymer additives to enhance its performance properties, such as improved elasticity and durability, as well as increased resistance to cracking and deformation caused by traffic loads and temperature variations.
Performance character
The “PG” in the name of the bitumen stands for “Performance Grade,” which is a standard classification system used to define the performance characteristics of different types of bitumen. The number “64-22” indicates the high- and low-temperature properties of the bitumen, specifically its stiffness and ductility at 64 degrees Celsius and 22 degrees Celsius, respectively.
properties of PG grade
Bitumen PG64-22 is a popular choice for road paving applications due to its excellent resistance to rutting and fatigue cracking, good workability at high temperatures, and low susceptibility to thermal cracking.
Is mostly used in paving for both new construction and pavement treatment projects and in both dense-graded and open graded Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA) as well as others.
It can be easily used for sealing purposes and crack treating too. Other uses include spray applications for bridge decks and pavement protective layer with fabrics and some modifications.
PG64-22 is most effect in paving
It has been reported that with proper aggregate selections and asphalt content, HMA with PG64-22 as the binder may show less tenderness compared to a similar mixture with a lower viscosity/softer asphalt.
This will lead to a significant reduction of typical tenderness problems of mixture shoving and checking during pavement surface scuffing and rolling and markings caused by traffic immediately after paving.
Bitumen PG64-16
Compared to Bitumen PG64-22, Bitumen PG64-16 has a slightly lower high-temperature stiffness and a slightly higher low-temperature ductility. This means that it is better suited for road paving applications in areas with colder climates, where the bitumen needs to be more flexible to accommodate temperature fluctuations and prevent cracking.
Overall, Bitumen PG64-16 is a reliable and versatile paving grade bitumen that offers excellent resistance to rutting and cracking, good workability at high temperatures, and improved flexibility at lower temperatures.
Bitumen PG64-28
Is primarily used in road construction and paving for new and pave care projects and in both dense-graded and open-graded HMA. Other uses include spray applications for bridge deck and pavement protective layer with fabrics. PG64-28 is generally used for the locations with low elevation.
Bitumen PG70-22
Is primarily used in areas with high traffic volume and is also the paving asphalt cement used for the production of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA). This grade is also a good choice for sealing the edges of pavement and for crack sealing.
Application | Performance Grade Bitumen |
PG grade with the best resistance in thermal cracking | PG 64-22, PG 76-22, PG 64-28, PG 58-34 |
PG grade with the best resistance against rutting | PG 82-22, PG 76-28, PG 70-28, PG 76-22 |
Common in toll roads (high Volume) | PG 64-22 |
Common in toll booth (high volume and slow traffic) | PG 70-22 |
Common in rest area (high volume and standing traffic) | PG 76-22 |
Make performance asphalt with PG bitumen
Performance asphalt is a type of asphalt mixture used in road paving applications that is designed to meet specific performance requirements related to durability, resistance to rutting and cracking, and reduced maintenance costs. Performance asphalt is typically composed of a carefully proportioned combination of asphalt binder, aggregate, and additives.
The performance of asphalt mixtures can be improved by modifying the properties of the asphalt binder through the addition of polymers or other modifiers. Polymer-modified asphalt (PMA) is a common type of performance asphalt that has been modified with polymer additives to enhance its performance properties, such as improved elasticity and durability, and increased resistance to rutting and cracking.
Low noise asphalt
Other additives such as fibers, rubber, or recycled materials can also be added to asphalt mixtures to improve their performance properties. For example, the addition of rubber to asphalt mixtures can improve their durability and reduce noise levels, while the use of recycled materials can reduce costs and promote sustainability.
Overall, performance asphalt is an essential component of modern road paving applications, and its use can help to ensure long-term pavement performance and reduce the need for costly maintenance and repairs. The selection of an appropriate performance asphalt for a specific project depends on factors such as traffic volume, climatic conditions, and the type of pavement structure being constructed.
Packing and shipping
PG bitumen is a solid bitumen and comes in several different packages, different from new steel drums and bulk packages.
In addition, we can use Cartoon, Cartoon-Pallet-Shrink, Poly Amid and
polyester for packeting and shipping.
Specification and data sheet of PG bitumen
Bitumen specifications by performance grade (PG)
| PG 46 | PG52 | PG 58 | PG 64 | PG 70 | PG 76 | PG 82 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grade range | −34 to −46 | −10 to −46 | −16 to −40 | −10 to −40 | −10 to −40 | −10 to −34 | −10 to −34 |
| Average 7-day maximum pavement design temperature (°C) | < 46 | < 52 | < 58 | < 64 | < 70 | < 76 | < 82 |
| Minimum pavement design temperature (°C) | >−34 to >−46 | >−10 to >−46 | >−16 to >−40 | >−10 to >−40 | >−10 to >−40 | >−10 to >−34 | >−10 to >−34 |
| Original binder | |||||||
| Flash-point temperature, D92; min. (°C) | 230 | ||||||
| Viscosity, D 4402: max. 3 Pa × s, test temperature (°C) | 135 | ||||||
| Dynamic shear, D7175: G*/sinδ, min. 1.00 kPa; 25 mm plate, 1 mm gap; test temperature at 10 rad/s (°C) | 46 | 52 | 58 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 82 |
| Rolling thin film oven residue (T 240) | |||||||
| Mass loss, max. % | 1.00 | ||||||
| Dynamic shear, D7175: G*/sinδ, min. 2.20 kPa; 25 mm plate, 1 mm gap; test temperature at 10 rad/s (°C) | 46 | 52 | 58 | 64 | 70 | 76 | 82 |
| Pressure ageing vessel residue (PP 1) | |||||||
| PAV ageing temperature (°C) | 90 | 90 | 100 | 100 | 100 (110) | 100 (110) | 100 (110) |
| Dynamic shear, D7175: G* × sinδ, max. 5000 kPa; 8mm plate, 2 mm gap; test temperature at 10 rad/s (°C) | 10 to 4 | 25 to 7 | 25 to 13 | 31 to 16 | 34 to 19 | 37 to 25 | 40 to 28 |
| Creep stiffness, D 6648: S, max 300 MPa; m-value, min. 0.300; test temperature at 60 s (°C) | –24 to –36 | 0 to –36 | –6 to –30 | 0 to –30 | 0 to –30 | 0 to –24 | 0 to –24 |
| Direct tension, D6723: failure strain, min. 1.0%; test temperature at 1.0 mm/min. (°C) | –24 to –36 | 0 to –36 | –6 to –30 | 0 to –30 | 0 to –30 | 0 to –24 | 0 to –24 |
