Bitumen 200/300 — Specification, Production & Applications
Bitumen 200/300 is the softest penetration grade in general supply, used almost entirely as a feedstock and for cold-region and specialty applications rather than as a paving binder.
Where Bitumen 200/300 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 200/300
Penetration of 200 to 300 places this grade far outside the range used for trafficked road surfaces in any but the coldest climates. Its role is different: it is the starting material for emulsions, cutbacks and blended products, and a component where a very soft, highly adhesive binder is required.
The values that matter
The specification reflects that role. Loss on heating is permitted to 1.5 per cent and flash point is only 200 °C, both consequences of the higher volatile content that comes with very soft material. Storage and heating discipline matter more with this grade than with any of the harder ones.
How Bitumen 200/300 is produced
Refining route
Bitumen 200/300 is produced either from a very shallow vacuum cut or, more usually, by fluxing a conventional residue with distillate. The economics normally favour fluxing, because a cut shallow enough to yield 200 to 300 penetration directly gives away too much distillate value.
Blend and release control
Because the binder is close to the soft limit of what is still classed as bitumen, blend control is tight. A small variation in flux ratio moves the penetration substantially, so parcels are tested at the blending stage and again before loading.
Bitumen 200/300 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 | 200–300 |
| Softening point, ring and ball | ASTM D36 | °C | min 42 |
| Ductility @ 25 °C | ASTM D113 | cm | min 100 |
| Loss on heating | ASTM D6 | wt % | max 1.5 |
| Retained penetration after heating | EN 1426 | % | min 40 |
| Solubility in trichloroethylene | ASTM D2042 | wt % | min 99 |
| Flash point, Cleveland open cup | ASTM D92 | °C | min 200 |
| 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 200/300 is used
Emulsion manufacture
The principal use: base binder for cationic and anionic bitumen emulsions used in surface treatments and cold mixes.
Cutback bitumen production
Feedstock for medium and slow curing cutback grades before solvent addition.
Cold region maintenance
Patching and sealing in severe winter climates where harder binders cannot be worked.
Soil and base stabilisation
Bituminous stabilisation where deep penetration into a granular matrix is required.
Blending component
A softening component for adjusting harder residues to a target penetration.
Specialty industrial products
Adhesives, sealants and coating formulations requiring a very soft base binder.
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 200/300 and should be confirmed against the mix design.
| Operation | Typical range | Control note |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk storage | 135–155 °C | Circulate to avoid local overheating at the coils |
| Pumping and transfer | 135–155 °C | Confirm line tracing before transfer begins |
| Hot mix asphalt mixing | 135–150 °C | Per mix design, not per binder alone |
| Compaction | 115–135 °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 200/300
| 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 200/300 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 200/300
Can bitumen 200/300 be used directly on a road?
Only in very cold climates or non-trafficked applications. On any normally trafficked surface it will deform. Its usual role is as feedstock for emulsions and cutbacks, where the finished product rather than the base binder does the work.
Why is the flash point only 200 degrees?
Higher volatile content. Very soft grades retain more of the lighter fractions, which lowers the flash point and narrows the safe heating margin. It also means storage temperature control is more important, not less, despite the binder being easier to pump.
How stable is 200/300 in storage?
Less stable than harder grades, because the volatile fraction that makes it soft is also the fraction most readily lost. Prolonged storage at elevated temperature will harden it measurably. Keep storage temperature at the lower end of the working range and avoid holding the material hot for long periods.
What penetration tolerance should we expect between parcels?
Wider than for harder grades. A small change in flux ratio moves penetration substantially at this end of the scale, so parcel-to-parcel variation within the 200 to 300 window is normal. If a narrower window is needed, state it in the enquiry so it can be confirmed before the blend is made.
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 200/300 supplier
Send quantity in metric tonnes, required packing, destination port and preferred Incoterm. Offers are normally returned within one working day.