BITUMEN PENETRATION 40/60 SUPPLIER
Bitumen 40/60 is a standard penetration grade bitumen, commonly used as a paving grade binder for road construction and the production of high-performance asphalt pavements. This grade is primarily used in hot mix asphalt for bases and wearing courses.
Penetration Bitumen supplied by Raha Oil is petroleum-grade bitumen, manufactured through fractional and vacuum distillation of crude oil, using vacuum residue (short residue) feedstock. Penetration grade bitumens are classified through penetration and softening point testing, with the designation based on penetration range alone.
Like other penetration grades, Bitumen 40/60 has a thermoplastic property — softening at high temperatures and hardening at lower temperatures. This temperature-viscosity relationship is essential for determining performance parameters such as adhesion, rheology, durability, and application temperature.
PROPERTIES OF ASPHALT 40/60
Bitumen Penetration 40/60 supplied by Raha Oil is pure petroleum-grade bitumen, manufactured from vacuum bottom residue through controlled processing with hot air. It has a penetration value between 40 and 60 (0.1 mm) and a softening point between 48°C and 56°C.
Like other penetration grades, Bitumen 40/60 has a thermoplastic property similar to synthetic resin — softening when heated and hardening when cooled. The temperature-stiffness relationship of bitumen depends on the source crude oil and refining method used. Bitumen 40/60 is a hard penetration grade, well-suited as a paving-grade bitumen for road construction and repair, as well as asphalt pavement production.
APPLICATION OF ASPHALT 40/60
Bitumen Penetration 40/60 is a semi-hard penetration grade, mostly used in road construction, asphalt pavements, and the manufacture of hot mix asphalt. Bitumens with high penetration numbers are softer and mostly used in cold weather conditions, while harder bitumens with lower penetration numbers are better suited to warm weather conditions.
THE 4 MAJOR TESTS OF BITUMEN 40/60
- Penetration Test: Measures the hardness or softness of bitumen by the depth, in tenths of a millimeter, that a standard loaded needle penetrates vertically in 5 seconds under standard test conditions. A grade of 40/60 means the penetration value falls between 40 and 60. In hot climates, a lower penetration grade is generally preferred.
- Softening Point Test: Identifies the temperature at which bitumen reaches a specified degree of softening, measured using the Ring and Ball apparatus. Temperature is recorded when the softened bitumen touches a metal plate at a specified distance below. A higher softening point generally indicates lower temperature susceptibility, which is preferred in hot climates.
- Ductility Test: Measures bitumen’s ability to undergo deformation or elongation without breaking, expressed as the distance in centimeters a standard sample can be stretched.
- Viscosity Test: Measures bitumen’s resistance to flow at application temperature. This property significantly influences the strength of paving mixes both low and high viscosity during compaction or mixing can reduce mix stability.
BITUMEN 40/60 VS. OTHER PENETRATION GRADES
Bitumen 40/60 sits between the harder grades (30/45, 20/30) and softer grades (50/70, 70/100) in the penetration scale, offering a middle-ground option for projects where extreme hardness or extreme softness isn’t required. Compared to 30/45, it provides greater flexibility and better resistance to low-temperature cracking. Compared to 50/70, it offers slightly higher resistance to deformation under heavy traffic and warm conditions.
This positioning makes Bitumen 40/60 a versatile choice for road construction projects in regions with moderate-to-warm climates and mixed traffic conditions, where a balance of stiffness and workability is needed.
CLIMATE AND REGIONAL SUITABILITY
Bitumen 40/60 performs reliably in warm to moderately hot climates, offering enough stiffness to resist rutting under traffic while retaining sufficient flexibility to avoid premature cracking. It is well-suited to standard highway and urban road projects where temperature swings are moderate rather than extreme.
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 40/60 to markets across Asia, including India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, where its balanced performance profile matches common infrastructure and climate requirements.
GUARANTY AND SAFETY OF BITUMEN 40/60
Raha Oil guarantees the quality of Bitumen Penetration Grade 40/60 through international inspection arrangements that verify quality and quantity during vessel loading, alongside internal QC batch testing before shipment. Bitumen Grade 40/60 is produced in compliance with the European Standard EN 12591.
PACKING OF BITUMEN GRADE 40/60
Bitumen packaging is a real concern, especially for export shipments — proper packaging guarantees safer delivery of the cargo. Packaging options vary depending on tonnage, type, and grade, since different bitumen grades have different levels of stiffness and viscosity. Bitumen 40/60 is commonly packed in new steel drums (150, 180, and 220 kg barrels), Jumbo Bags, or 300 kg Bitubags.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQ
Bitumen 40/60 is a semi-hard penetration grade used mainly in road construction, asphalt pavements, and hot mix asphalt for bases and wearing courses.
Bitumen 40/60 has a penetration value of 40–60 (0.1 mm) and a softening point of 48–56°C, as confirmed by EN 1426 and EN 1427 testing.
As a semi-hard penetration grade, Bitumen 40/60 performs well across a range of conditions, though harder grades are generally preferred for hot climates and softer grades for colder conditions.
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 40/60 in new steel drums (150–220 kg), 1 MT and 500 kg jumbo bags, 300 kg Bitubags, and bulk/tanker loads.
Bitumen 40/60 — Technical Data Sheet
EN 12591 Standard| Property | Test Method | Unit | Specification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration – 25°C, 100g, 5s | EN 1426 | 0.1 mm | 40–60 | |
| Softening Point (Ring & Ball) | EN 1427 | °C | 48–56 | |
| Kinematic Viscosity @ 135°C | EN 12595 | mm²/s | 325 min | |
| Solubility in Xylene | EN 12592 | % | 99 min | |
| Flash Point (Cleveland Open) | EN 22592 | °C | 230 min | |
| Resistance to Hardening at 163°C | ||||
| Change in Mass (m/m) | EN 12607-1 | % | 0.5 max | |
| Retained Penetration (% of original) | EN 1426 | % | 50 min | |
| Increase in Softening Point | EN 1427 | °C | 11 max | |
WHY CHOOSE RAHA OIL FOR BITUMEN 40/60
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 40/60 from Jebel Ali, UAE, with quality verified through international inspection during vessel loading and internal QC batch testing before every shipment. Production meets European Standard EN 12591 requirements, ensuring consistent, specification-compliant quality for every shipment.
With flexible packing — from 150 kg drums to full bulk vessel loads and an established export record across Asia, Raha Oil supports both trial orders and large-scale infrastructure projects requiring reliable Bitumen 40/60 supply.
GET BITUMEN 40/60 EXPORT QUOTE
Looking for a reliable Bitumen 40/60 supplier in UAE?
RAHA Oil provides competitive FOB and CFR export prices for Bitumen 40/60 with worldwide shipment support from Jebel Ali ports.
- Steel Drum Packing
- Jumbo Bag Packing
- Bitutainer Shipment
- Bulk Vessel Supply
- SGS Inspection Available
- Worldwide Export Support
Contact our export team today for updated prices and shipment schedules.
