Investigating the types of bitumen applications in different industries
As one of the crude oil derivatives, bitumen has more than 250 different uses, including; It is used in paving roads, roofs of buildings, making waterproofing and sealing, mastic flooring in factories, anti-draining walls for masonry, etc. According to global statistics, about 85% of bitumen is used in the road construction industry, 10% of it is used in roofing and 5% of this valuable material is used in other technical, medical, industrial and construction sectors.
Since by knowing how bitumen is used in various industries (taking into account the properties and characteristics of each type) experts in related fields can make informed decisions about this matter, in this article we intend to introduce you first. Let’s introduce our dear audience to the definition of bitumen and then to the types of application of bitumen in the industry.
What is bitumen?
Bitumen is one of the most viscous components of crude oil, which consists of complex hydrocarbons with high molecular weight. This substance exists in both natural and refinery forms (resulting from the sedimentation of crude oil), and depending on its exact composition, it can be a viscous, black liquid or an apparently solid mass that behaves like a liquid on very large time scales.
In fact, bitumen is semi-viscous and in some environmental conditions, it tends to maintain a semi-solid form. This natural resource is in high demand worldwide in its processed form, commonly known as asphalt. This type of bitumen becomes fluid at a temperature between 150 and 200 degrees Celsius and allows it to be mixed with other materials. In this way, it is possible to produce products that are necessary to maintain and improve our quality of life, such as road and highway surfaces, air and sports fields, shoe sole fillers, building waterproofing, roof and ceiling insulation, and more.
In general, bitumen is a thick, dense, non-crystalline and dark colored material (brown and dark green to black) with viscoelastic and thermoplastic behaviors, it has various types such as emulsion bitumen, soluble bitumen, blown bitumen and petroleum bitumen (natural). that adhesion and impermeability against water are among the most important features of this efficient material in the industry, for this reason, engineers and activists in this field usually use bitumen in the form of an economic adhesive and protector.
Bitumen has been traditionally used for centuries in various cases, but with the advancement of technology, significant innovations have been made in the production of bitumen types, including polymer modified bitumen (PMB) and warm mix asphalt (WMA), which has led to significant developments. It created industries related to road construction and so on.
The use of bitumen in the industry of paving roads and roads
Roads and roads are very necessary for economic development and social movements, among which bitumen, as the safest material, plays a colorful role in the development of modern infrastructure, because the unique properties of bitumen make it an ideal binder for aggregates used in road construction. converts Bitumen ensures that the road and busy roads can withstand heavy traffic and different weather conditions.
The use of bitumen in the industry in its processed form is usually known as asphalt (hot mix asphalt, cold mix asphalt), which is also used as a waterproofing agent in the form of bituminous membranes. Although this valuable material has a high viscosity and a semi-solid state, this property can make it difficult to work with at room temperature, so bitumen in the road industry is usually heated to make it more fluid and easier to use.
The use of bitumen in the paper industry
Helping to waterproof paper is also one of the uses of bitumen in industry. In this way, engineers and industrialists who produce all kinds of paper try to put a layer of bitumen between two sheets of kraft paper in order to minimize the vulnerability of this paper to moisture and the effects of water vapor.
The use of bituminous craft paper in the packaging industry is an efficient and economical way to protect products against water and liquid penetration, which can be produced in several different models. This type of packaging is widely used as protection and lining for export goods, all kinds of boxes, containers (especially for wooden sea boxes) and even pallets, etc.
Types of bitumen application
Application of bitumen in insulation and paint industry
Bitumen-based insulations have a wide range of effectiveness in industry and our daily affairs, usually in the form of a moisture-proof material in the base and walls of the basement, foundation, roof and ceiling, primer in all applications of bituminous coating, primer and adhesive in applications Glass fiber and canvas are used as an additive to enhance impermeability and adhesion to mortars and plasters made with cement or fine sand, to prevent bending and damage of building molds due to water, and as a mold release agent, etc.
Also, the use of bitumen in the paint industry is also very important because
Bitumen paint has unique properties of resistance to temperature and weather changes, corrosion and adhesion. Therefore, bitumen is used as a vital, efficient and economic element in buildings, structures and items made of iron, steel, concrete, masonry and wood.
Summary of the article on the use of bitumen in different industries
As we said, bitumen is a versatile material with a wide range of applications in various industries, from glue and sealant production to road improvement, etc., that is why traces of this valuable element can be found in floors, roofs, paint , racetracks, roads, mall drives, etc. In general, this by-product of crude oil is in great demand in construction and industrial products.