Standards Development

Scope

This document specifies a framework of additional characteristics and associated test methods for bitumens and bituminous binders, which is complementary to other product standards for bitumens and bituminous binders. This document is applicable to bitumens and bituminous binders suitable for use in paving applications, but it is also applicable for other uses such as waterproofing membranes.

With regard to paving applications, the following characteristics are addressed:

— resistance to permanent deformation (rutting);

— resistance to low-temperature cracking;

— resistance to ravelling;

— resistance to fatigue cracking;

— temperature susceptibility;

— equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle;

— durability (evolution of equi-stiffness temperature and phase angle);

— mixing and handling characteristics (paving and compaction) temperatures;

— additional characteristics (e.g. solubility, elastic recovery and storage stability).

Not all the properties and characteristics established in the framework are universally relevant to all binders. For example, elastic recovery is not relevant for unmodified binders.