Frequently Asked Questions

Bitumen (or Asphalt) is a bi-product of the petroleum industry. It heavy fraction obtrained by distillation of crude oil. Bitumen is the residual fraction and shall not be confused with tar which is a viscious black liquid that is distilled from coal or wood

Properties of Bitumen

• The bitumen is naturally waterproof and insoluble in water which is why it has been used since the beginning of human civilization to protect the roofs and boats from water.
• The bitumen is a thermoplastic material, which means that it is liquid at high temperature (>150°C) and solid at ambient temperature. It is an interesting property to process and can be used for industrial purposes, as well as on roads or roofs.
• Bitumen is also a viscoelastic material, which means that it has the capacity to absorb sound by transforming vibration into heat.
• That’s why bitumen is also used as a heavy mass around car engines and in washing machines…as a soundproof material.