Bitumen 120/150 — Specification, Production & Applications
Bitumen 120/150 is a very soft penetration grade for cold climates, low-temperature application and formulations where flexibility is the governing property.
Where Bitumen 120/150 sits among the penetration grades
Penetration is measured as the depth in tenths of a millimetre that a standard needle penetrates the binder in five seconds at 25 °C under a 100 g load, to ASTM D5. A lower number means a harder binder. The scale above runs from hard on the left to very soft on the right.
What defines Bitumen 120/150
At 120 to 150 tenths of a millimetre penetration and a 40 °C minimum softening point, this grade sits well below the range used for trafficked wearing courses in warm climates. It is specified where the binder must stay pliable at low ambient temperature rather than resist deformation at high ones.
The values that matter
Despite its softness, the ageing limits are those of a well-controlled grade: 0.8 per cent maximum loss on heating and 46 per cent retained penetration. That matters because soft binders age proportionally faster in thin films, and a loose limit here would allow a parcel that hardens sharply during mixing.
How Bitumen 120/150 is produced
Refining route
Bitumen 120/150 is produced from a shallow vacuum cut, or more commonly by fluxing a conventional residue with a compatible distillate stream to bring the penetration up. Fluxing is often preferred because taking the vacuum cut shallow enough to reach 120 to 150 directly would sacrifice a large volume of higher-value distillate.
Blend and release control
Because demand for the very soft grades is lower than for the 60/70 and 80/100 range, 120/150 is frequently a campaign production rather than a continuously available tank grade. Availability should be established at the enquiry stage rather than assumed.
Bitumen 120/150 specification
| Property | Test method | Unit | Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density @ 25 °C | ASTM D70 | g/cm³ | 1.01–1.06 |
| Penetration @ 25 °C, 100 g, 5 s | ASTM D5 | ×0.1 mm | 120–150 |
| Softening point, ring and ball | ASTM D36 | °C | min 40 |
| Ductility @ 25 °C | ASTM D113 | cm | min 100 |
| Loss on heating | ASTM D6 | wt % | max 0.8 |
| Retained penetration after heating | EN 1426 | % | min 46 |
| Solubility in trichloroethylene | ASTM D2042 | wt % | min 99 |
| Flash point, Cleveland open cup | ASTM D92 | °C | min 230 |
| Spot test | AASHTO T102 | — | negative |
A certificate of analysis accompanies every shipment. Independent inspection by SGS, Intertek or an equivalent surveyor can be arranged at the buyer instruction and account.
Where Bitumen 120/150 is used
Cold climate paving
Road surfacing in cold regions where thermal cracking rather than rutting governs pavement life.
Emulsion manufacture
Base binder for bitumen emulsions, where a soft feedstock assists dispersion and setting behaviour.
Cutback production
Feedstock for medium and slow curing cutback bitumen.
Cold applied maintenance
Patching and crack sealing at low ambient temperatures.
Soil stabilisation
Bituminous stabilisation of granular bases where penetration into the matrix is required.
Low traffic rural roads
Light-duty sealed surfaces in cool regions with minimal heavy vehicle exposure.
Handling and application temperatures
Working temperatures follow the binder viscosity rather than the grade designation alone. The ranges below are typical starting points for Bitumen 120/150 and should be confirmed against the mix design.
| Operation | Typical range | Control note |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk storage | 140–160 °C | Circulate to avoid local overheating at the coils |
| Pumping and transfer | 140–160 °C | Confirm line tracing before transfer begins |
| Hot mix asphalt mixing | 140–155 °C | Per mix design, not per binder alone |
| Compaction | 120–140 °C | Cease rolling below the lower figure |
| Maximum sustained heating | below 180 °C | Above this, oxidative hardening accelerates sharply |
Drummed material should be reheated in a controlled oven or hot room rather than by direct flame. Localised overheating hardens the binder at the drum wall and can take a compliant parcel out of specification before it reaches the mixer.
Available packing for Bitumen 120/150
| Packing | Net weight | Loading per 20 ft FCL | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| New steel drum | 150 / 180 / 185 / 200 kg | 110 drums, 20.35 MT at 185 kg | Smaller parcels, sites without bulk storage |
| Jumbo bag | 1 MT | 20 MT | Lower packing cost, requires melting facility |
| Flexitank / bitutainer | 20–22 MT | 1 unit | Bulk economics without a bulk vessel |
| Bulk vessel | by parcel | heated tanker | Terminal to terminal, largest volumes |
As a Bitumen 120/150 supplier Bitumen Asphaltive ships on CFR, CIF and FOB terms with commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin and certificate of analysis.
Questions about Bitumen 120/150
When is 120/150 preferred over 70/100 or 85/100?
When the application needs genuine low-temperature flexibility or when the binder is a feedstock for emulsion or cutback production rather than a paving binder in its own right. For trafficked wearing courses in most climates, 120/150 is too soft.
Will 120/150 rut in service?
On a trafficked surface in a warm climate, yes, and quickly. Its 40 °C softening point minimum means the binder has little resistance to deformation once pavement temperature approaches that figure. It belongs in cold climates, protected layers, or non-paving applications.
Why is it usually made to order?
Volume. The bulk of global paving demand sits in the 40/50 to 85/100 band, so refineries run those continuously and schedule the soft grades against confirmed orders. Expect a longer lead time and raise availability early in the enquiry.
Can 120/150 be blended on site to make a harder grade?
No. Field blending is not a recognised route to a penetration grade and no certificate can be issued for the result. Penetration grading applies to a binder as produced and tested at the refinery or blending terminal.
The penetration grade range
Penetration windows overlap between adjacent grades, so a single parcel can sometimes satisfy two specifications. Ageing limits and softening point are what separate them.
| Grade | Penetration @ 25 °C | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Bitumen 20/30 | 20–30 × 0.1 mm | Hard |
| Bitumen 30/40 | 30–40 × 0.1 mm | Hard |
| Bitumen 40/50 | 40–50 × 0.1 mm | Medium hard |
| Bitumen 50/70 | 50–70 × 0.1 mm | Medium hard |
| Bitumen 60/70 | 60–70 × 0.1 mm | Medium hard |
| Bitumen 70/100 | 70–100 × 0.1 mm | Medium soft |
| Bitumen 80/100 | 80–100 × 0.1 mm | Medium soft |
| Bitumen 85/100 | 85–100 × 0.1 mm | Medium soft |
| Bitumen 120/150 | 120–150 × 0.1 mm | Soft |
| Bitumen 200/300 | 200–300 × 0.1 mm | Very soft |
Speak to a Bitumen 120/150 supplier
Send quantity in metric tonnes, required packing, destination port and preferred Incoterm. Offers are normally returned within one working day.