Blending
Blending the higher and lower viscosity residues in the required proportions can take place at the refinery, at terminals or at a third party facility, where blend components and finished products can be easily transported and distributed for use.
Each processing technique results in different grades of bitumen products, including:
- Hard grade bitumens – used for paving.
- Cutback bitumens - blends of penetration bitumens with a solvent such as kerosene.
- Emulsions – stabilised suspensions of bitumen in water.
- Polymer modified bitumens – mixtures of selected bitumens with polymers, such as thermoplastics or elastomers.