Changes in bitumen quality are challenging the industry as bitumen obtained from global crude sources lacks priority on bitumen output and end-user specifications. Bitumen has also become less of a necessary byproduct for producers in the wake of coking (or catalytic cracking), block running, synthetic crude use, and shale oil production. With variations in bitumen quality here to stay, additives and balanced mix design are rising in necessity to help contractors and departments of transportation meet performance requirements. While the bitumen production landscape shifts, Sripath remains at the forefront of industry developments and innovation to enhance bitumen mix performance.
History of Bitumen Quality and Modern Concerns for the Asphalt Industry
Bitumen, once a predictable byproduct of crude oil refining, is now at the center of a global supply and quality challenge. As refining technologies evolve and crude sourcing diversifies, the characteristics of bitumen have become increasingly inconsistent. This has posed challenges for contractors, suppliers, and transportation departments around the world.  Bitumen Quality Changes  Historically, bitumen was [...]
