In the past, the penetration index was defined based on the assumption that thermal sensitivity in the bitumen used in road construction was zero. Bitumen is a thermoplastic material, meaning that it becomes pliable or moldable above a specific temperature and returns to a solid state upon cooling.
Penetration-grade bitumen is mainly used in road surfacing. Bitumen with lower penetration grade is used in the regions with warm climate while higher penetration grade is used in colder weather.
White Lighthouse Petroleum Company is capable of producing different grades of road surfacing bitumen in compliance with national and international standards in its six plants located at Tehran, Tabriz, Arak, Shiraz, Bandar Abbas, and Abadan refineries. Penetration rate bitumen is graded based on penetration and softening point tests. This table describes the physical properties of penetration-grade bitumen based on European standards. Penetration-grade bitumen is mainly used in road construction. During the last two decades of the 20th century, most road construction projects showed inclination for solid bitumen which results in more effective asphalt.
| SPECIFICATION | RESULT | TEST METHOD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY @ 15.56 /15 .56 °C | C | 0.7177 | ASTM D 4052 |
| API | 65.7 | ASTM D 1298 | |
| SULPHUR CONTENT | wt.% | 0.27 | ASTM D 4294 |
| MERCAPTAN CONTENT | wt.% | 0.12 | UOP 163 |
| H2S CONTENT | ppm | 46.0 | UOP 163 |
| WATER CONTENT | ppm | 110 | ASTM D 4928 |
| NITROGEN CONTENT | ppm | < 10 | ASTM D 5762 |
| PONA TEST: | ASTM D 1319 | ||
| SATURATE CONTENT | Vol.% | 90.2 | |
| OLEFIN CONTENT | Vol.% | 2.0 | |
| AROMATIC CONTENT | Vol.% | 7.8 | |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ O °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.8825 | ASTM D 445 |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ 10 °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.7420 | ASTM D 445 |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ 20 °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.6742 | ASTM D 445 |
| POUR POINT | ·c | < -39 | ASTM D 97 |
| R.V.P | PSI | 9.20 | ASTM D 323 |
| COLD FILTER PLUGGING POINT | °C | <-32 | IP 309 |
| WAX CONTENT | wt.% | 0.3 | BP 237 |
| DROP MELTING POINT OF WAX | ·c | 32.0 | IP 133 |
| COPPER CORROSION, 3hrs,@50 °CC | 3b | ASTM D 130 | |
| ACIDITY TOTAL | mgrKOH/gr | 0.02 | ASTM D 664 |
| ANILINE POINT | °C | 58.5 | ASTM D 611 |
| MOLECULAR WEIGHT | 135 | Osmomat | |
| COLOR Saybolt | 26.7 | ASTM D 156 | |
| LEAD | ppm | < 1 | ASTM D 5863 |
| SPECIFICATION | RESULT | TEST METHOD | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SPECIFIC GRAVITY @ 15.56 /15.56 °C | 0.7228 | ASTM D 4052 | |
| API | 64.3 | ASTM D 1298 | |
| SULPHUR CONTENT | wt.% | 0.03 | ASTM D 4294 |
| MERCAPTAN CONTENT | ppm | 144 | UOP 163 |
| H2S CONTENT | ppm | <1 | UOP 163 |
| WATER CONTENT | ppm | 104 | ASTM D 4928 |
| NITROGEN CONTENT | ppm | <10 | ASTM D 5762 |
| PONA TEST: | ASTM D 1319 | ||
| SATURATE CONTENT | Vol.% | 91.2 | |
| OLEFIN CONTENT | Vol.% | 0.7 | |
| AROMATI C CONTENT | Vol.% | 8.170 | |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ O °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.8897 | ASTM D 445 |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ 10 °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.7272 | ASTM D 445 |
| KINEMATIC VISCOSITY @ 20 °C | mm2 /Sec | 0.6745 | ASTM D 445 |
| POUR POINT | °C | < -39 | ASTM D 97 |
| R.V.P | PSI | 7.55 | ASTM D 323 |
| COLD FILTER PLUGGING POINT | °C | <-32 | IP 309 |
| WAX CONTENT | wt.% | 0.03 | BP 237 |
| DROP MELTING POINT OF WAX | °C | <1 | IP 133 |
| COPPER CORROSION, 3hrs,@50°C | 1b | ASTM D 130 | |
| ACIDITY TOTAL | mgrKOH/gr | <1 | ASTM D 664 |
| ANILINE POINT | °C | 57 | ASTM D 611 |
| MOLECULAR WEIGHT | 138 | Osmomat | |
| COLOR Saybolt | 30 | ASTM D 156 | |
| LEAD | ppm | < 1 | ASTM D 5863 |
| CHARACTERISTICS | UNITS | RESULT | TEST METHOD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Specific Gravity @ 15.56 /15.56 °C | — | 0.7327 | ASTM D4052 |
| API Gravity | °API | 61.6 | |
| Sulfur Content (Total) | wt.% | 0.25 | ASTM D4294 |
| H2S Content | ppm | <1 | UOP 163 |
| Mercaptan Content | wt.% | 0.17 | UOP 163 |
| Nitrogen Content (Total) | ppm | <10 | ASTM D4629 |
| Water Content | vol.% | <0.025 | ASTM D4006 |
| Salt Content | P.T.B | <1 | ASTM D3230 |
| Hydrocarbon Types: | |||
| Saturates | vol.% | 89.5 | |
| Olefins | vol.% | 2.0 | ASTM D1319 |
| Aromatics | vol.% | 8.5 | |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 0 °C | mm2 /s | 1.061 | ASTM D445 |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 10 °C | mm2 /s | 0.862 | |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 20 °C | mm2 /s | 0.777 | |
| Cloud Point | °C | -44 | ASTM D2500 |
| Pour Point (Upper) | °C | -57 | ASTM D97 |
| Reid Vapor Pressure | psi | 11.0 | ASTM D5191 |
| Wax Content | wt.% | 0.40 | BP 237 |
| Corrosion Copper Strip (3h/50°C) | — | 1a | ASTM D130 |
| Total Acid Number | mg KOH/g | <0.05 | ASTM D 664 |
| Aniline Point | °C | 60 | IP2 |
| Molecular Weight | g/mol | 112.6 | Osmomat |
| Saybolt Color | — | 20 | ASTM D156 |
| Bromine Index | mg Br2/100 g | 807 | IP 130 |
| Lead Content | mg/kg | <1 | ASTM D 5863 |
