From Crude Selection to Performance Related

Specifications.
Where are the limits ?

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Wim Teugels
 Specification systems - Backgrounds

• Since 2002, the European CEN process for the development of

performance based specifications has started.
‘ Many – already not that new – test procedures are based on results coming
from the SHRP work performed in the 90s.
‘ Introduction of SHRP binder and mixture testing approach in many
countries outside the US since more than 15 years.

• The process is at full speed and is targeting for a first proposal by

2008.

• The performance related specification system is designed for

bituminous binders used in hot-mix applications.

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 Specification systems - Backgrounds

Low temperature Average service Hot Mixing &

cracking temperature summer Compaction

Fraass Pen R&B Viscosity Viscosity

-15°C 25°C 60°C 135°C

DTT

BBR DSR RV

PAV - aging RTFOT - aging No aging

Thermal Cracking Fatigue Cracking Rutting Production

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 CEN TC 336 – Specification Process

Market Needs
Binder producers Asphalt producers Road Authorities Definition
EUROBITUME / IISRP EAPA WERD / FEHRL 2002
Liaison with CEN TC 227 Road Materials – Coherance
and complementary with asphalt-pavement standards

CEN TC 336 WORK

Conditions
National

National
Consultation
Initial CEN TC 336
Proposals for Regional
specification framework Seminars
2002

Discussion and search for consensus European

on specification framework Seminar
2003

Eurobitume
TRANSITION FRAMEWORK VALIDATION PROJECT & EAPA
• Data collection • Correlation with performance Congress
• Experience on new tests • Recommendations for specs May 2004
2004 – 2007
Eurobitume
IMPLEMENTATION 2ND GENERATION & EAPA
PERFORMANCE-RELATED BINDER SPECIFICATIONS Congress
2006 – 2008
May 2008
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 Performance Specifications

• The relation between binder and mixture properties is sometimes

still “a missing link”
‘ The projects of “Data Collection” and “BitVal” should result in a better
understanding of potential binder-asphalt mixture relations.
‘ Goal is to evaluate which binder characteristics have the “best predictive”
potential towards asphalt properties and what could be the “acceptable”
ranges for these properties.

• The system should also be applicable for all types of binder

‘ Binder properties - not origin or production process - should be used for
selection.

• But let us have a quick look into the bitumen production process....

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 Impact on Crude / Feedstock selection

• Many performance requirements can be related with some

chemical bitumen properties.

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 Impact on Crude / Feedstock selection

• Binder properties are

influenced by the
manufacturing process and/or
crude origin
‘ The effect of these will be
reflected by performance related
characteristics.
‘ Is this sufficient to select a
binder for a further upgrading
process ?

• Up to what level are the crude

origin and refining process
having an importance?

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 Choice of binder for bitumen upgrading

• For many bitumen applications (in particular hot-mix), the refinery

process and the selected crude is not a main parameter – as long as
the product specifications fulfil the requirements.

• In the case of further upgrading, parameters related to crude origin

and refining process may have an effect on the suitability of a
bitumen.
‘ The identification and quantifying of these parameters is a difficult, and often
not yet fully understood, topic – resulting in a lack of objective selection
criteria.
‘ Experience and trust in the bitumen supplier still remains a major decision
parameter in the choice of the bitumen binder.

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 Bitumen manufacturing methods

• Several manufacturing methods are available to produce

specification bitumen depending on the crude sources and
available processing configuration. In many cases, a combination
of processes is used.
• In general, following options are
used in refineries producing
bitumen.
‘ Atmospheric and Vacuum
distillation
‘ Blending
‘ Air-Blowing
‘ Solvent de-asphalting
‘ Solvent extraction
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 Bitumen manufacturing methods

• The possibility of a refinery to

produce bitumen depends on many
factors. The most important are :
‘ Process configuration
‘ Available crude
‘ Product slate (product market)
‘ Crude cost & product value
‘ Bitumen yield (capacity)
‘ Blending competence

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 Bitumen Feedstock Crudes

Feedstock for
gasoline and
diesel

Feedstock and
component for
bitumen, heavy
fuel or further
upgrading (e.g.
coking)

Bitumen crude oils

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 Example – Effect of crude origin

Light Low Sulphur XX Heavy High

Brent Blend Sulphur Boscan

< 1%
0.38%

XX Heavy High Sulphur Boscan

Light Low Sulphur

Brent Blend

12.8%

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 Effects on bitumen upgrading applications.

• While the production process is having less influence on the

standard uses of bitumen, there can be an effect on upgrading
applications.
‘ When blowing the bitumen, the amount of heavier molecules (e.g.
asphaltenes) increases. This has an effect on the solubility
parameters, which is of importance in polymer modification
(possible increased risk of storage separation).
9 Blending polymers also alters the bitumen structure and
depending of the chemical composition and/or solubility, a
different modification effect can be obtained.
‘ Chances in crude origin has major effects in emulsion applications.
Some of these can be solved by changing formulations but this
requires addition laboratory evaluations.

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 Control of manufacturing parameters

• Bitumen upgrading requires

a good control of the various
manufacturing parameters.
‘A constancy of the influencing
properties is often a
requirement as a detailed
and/or regular analysis of the
properties is often not possible.
‘ Properties are often beyond the
scope of normal quality
control.

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 The bitumen challenge is a balancing act...in 2 parts.
Part 1 - Crude & refining balance.

• “Distillate” crudes • “Bitumen” crudes

‘ In general sweet crudes ‘ Often more sour crudes (higher
‘ Lighter crudes sulphur) and/or acidic
‘ Higher API ‘ Heavier crudes (lower API)

‘ Low bitumen yields ‘ Higher bitumen yields

‘ Higher distillates yields with ‘ Distillates properties not always

suitable properties for e.g. diesel. ideal
‘ Higher degree of variability in ‘ Less interesting in complex
crude source. refineries - requiring more
dedicated refining conditions
‘ Less variability in chemical
composition

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 The bitumen challenge is a balancing act...in 2 parts.
Part 2 - Bitumen application balance.

• Performance related specification can help to cope with a variation

in crude & refining aspects.

• For specific upgrading applications, the proposed set of test

methods is insufficient to predict the binders’ suitability for use in
polymer modification, emulsions, ....
‘ Is there a need for specific “upgrading” test methods ?
‘ Which tests could be used ?

• Despite many developments, there is still some work to be done on

the topic of binder properties and upgrading suitability.

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