DESCRIPTION
Bitumen 50/70 is a penetration-grade bitumen manufactured by Raha Oil Group at our Jebel Ali, UAE facility, fully compliant with EN 12591 standards. This grade is one of the most widely specified bitumen grades for hot mix asphalt (HMA) production, road surfacing, and highway construction across the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 50/70 in new steel drums (180 kg net), jumbo bags/FIBC (1,000–1,300 kg net), and bulk tanker shipments, all delivered FOB Jebel Ali with a full Certificate of Analysis (COA) and technical data sheet accompanying every shipment.
APPLICATIONS
Bitumen 50/70 is primarily used in:
– Hot mix asphalt (HMA) for highways, airport runways, and urban roads
– Surface dressing and chip seal applications
– Waterproofing membranes and roofing base material
– Industrial flooring and pavement construction
Its penetration range makes it suitable for moderate to warm climates, offering a balance of stiffness and flexibility under standard traffic loads.
PRODUCTION METHODS OF BITUMEN 50/70
Bitumen 50/70 is produced through several refining techniques, each suited to different feedstocks and operational requirements:
- Vacuum Distillation — The primary method for producing penetration-grade bitumen. Crude oil residue is heated and processed under vacuum to separate it into fractions based on boiling point. The fraction matching the target penetration range (50–70 dmm) is collected as the base bitumen.
- Solvent Deasphalting — A propane or butane solvent is used to separate asphaltenes from the vacuum residue, yielding a bitumen base that can be further adjusted to the required penetration grade.
- Blending — Bitumen of different penetration grades is blended together, sometimes with polymer modifiers or additives, to achieve a consistent 50–70 dmm penetration range and meet EN 12591 specifications.
Each method is selected based on feedstock availability, target specification, and quality consistency requirements. Raha Oil Group’s Bitumen 50/70 is manufactured through vacuum distillation and quality-controlled blending to ensure full compliance with EN 12591 at every batch.
THE 4 MAJOR TESTS OF BITUMEN 50/70
- 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 50/70 means the penetration value falls between 50 and 70 — a mid-range value suited to moderate climates.
- Softening Point Test: Identifies the temperature at which bitumen reaches a specified degree of softening, measured using the Ring and Ball apparatus. Bitumen 50/70 typically has a softening point between 46°C and 54°C, balancing heat resistance with workability.
- Kinematic Viscosity Test: Measures bitumen’s resistance to flow at 135°C, directly influencing mixing and compaction temperatures during asphalt production.
- Resistance to Hardening Test (RTFOT): Simulates the aging bitumen undergoes during hot mixing and paving, measuring change in mass, retained penetration, and increase in softening point to predict long-term pavement performance.
BITUMEN 50/70 VS. OTHER PENETRATION GRADES
Bitumen 50/70 is the most commonly specified penetration grade for standard road construction worldwide, offering a practical balance between flexibility and stiffness. Compared to harder grades like 30/45 or 20/30, it performs better in colder climates and resists low-temperature cracking more effectively. Compared to softer grades like 70/100 or 100/150, it offers greater resistance to rutting and deformation under heavy traffic and warm weather.
This balance is why Bitumen 50/70 is often the default choice for general road paving projects where climate conditions are moderate rather than extreme.
CLIMATE AND REGIONAL SUITABILITY
Bitumen 50/70 performs reliably across a wide range of climates, from temperate regions to moderately hot environments, making it one of the most versatile penetration grades available. It is particularly well-suited to standard highway and urban road construction where traffic loads and temperature swings fall within typical ranges.
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 50/70 to markets across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where its balanced performance profile matches a wide variety of infrastructure and climate conditions.
Bitumen 50/70 — Technical Data Sheet
EN 12591 Standard| Property | Unit | Test Method | Min | Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Softening Point (R&B) | °C | EN 1427 | 46 | 54 |
| Penetration at 25°C | 0.1 mm | EN 1426 | 50 | 70 |
| Kinematic Viscosity at 135°C | mm²/sec | EN 12595 | 295 | – |
| Solubility in Trichloroethylene | % | EN 12592 | 99 | – |
| Flash Point | °C | EN 2592 | 230 | – |
| Penetration Index | – | EN 12607-1 | -1.5 | +0.7 |
| Dynamic Viscosity at 60°C | Pa·s | EN 12596 | 145 | – |
| Fraass Breaking Point | °C | EN 12593 | – | -8 |
| Spot Test | – | AASHTO T102 | Negative | |
| Resistance to Hardening at 163°C (RTFOT) | ||||
| Retained Penetration | % | EN 12607-1 | 50 | – |
| Increase in Softening Point — Severity 1 | °C | EN 12607-1 | – | 9 |
| Increase in Softening Point — Severity 2 | °C | EN 12607-1 | – | 11 |
| Change of Mass (absolute value) | % | EN 12607-1 | – | 0.5 |
GUARANTY & QUALITY ASSURANCE
Every batch of Bitumen 50/70 supplied by Raha Oil Group undergoes in-house laboratory testing prior to shipment, in accordance with EN 12591 requirements. A Certificate of Analysis (COA) is issued for each shipment, confirming compliance with the specifications above.
Raha Oil Group is committed to consistent quality across all bitumen grades. For technical documentation or a shipment sample COA, please contact our export team.
RELATED BITUMEN PRODUCTS
- Bitumen 60/70:
High-performance paving grade bitumen suitable for heavy traffic roads and hot climate regions. - Bitumen 40/50:
Widely used penetration grade bitumen for asphalt production and highway construction projects. - Bitumen 80/100:
Softer penetration grade bitumen recommended for colder climates and flexible pavement systems. - VG30 Bitumen:
One of the most commonly used viscosity grades for highways, airport runways, and asphalt pavements. - Bitumen Emulsion:
Available in CRS, CMS, RS, and SS grades for road maintenance, tack coat, and surface dressing. - Cutback Bitumen:
Fast curing and medium curing cutback grades suitable for priming and cold weather applications. - PMB (Polymer Modified Bitumen):
Premium modified bitumen offering superior flexibility, durability, and rutting resistance. - Oxidized Bitumen:
Industrial grade oxidized bitumen widely used for waterproofing, roofing, insulation, and pipe coating.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - FAQ
Bitumen 50/70 is mainly used in hot mix asphalt for road construction, highway paving, and airport runways due to its balanced penetration and softening point properties.
Our Bitumen 50/70 is manufactured and tested in full compliance with EN 12591 international standards.
We supply Bitumen 50/70 in new steel drums (180 kg), jumbo bags/FIBC (1,000–1,300 kg), and bulk tanker loads, all FOB Jebel Ali, UAE.
Bitumen 50/70 has a slightly lower penetration range (50–70 dmm vs. 60–70 dmm), making it marginally stiffer and better suited to warmer climates and heavier traffic loads.
PACKING OF BITUEMN 50/70
WHY CHOOSE RAHA OIL FOR BITUMEN 50/70
Raha Oil supplies Bitumen 50/70 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 180 kg drums to full bulk vessel loads — and an established global export record, Raha Oil supports both trial orders and large-scale infrastructure projects requiring reliable, widely-trusted Bitumen 50/70 supply.
GET BITUMEN 50/70 EXPORT QUOTE
Looking for a reliable Bitumen 50/70 supplier in UAE?
RAHA Oil provides competitive FOB and CFR export prices for Bitumen 50/70 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.
