A new approach to bitumen certification

The 21st century has seen considerable changes take place to Australia’s bitumen supply industry with a reduction to the local refining footprint and an update to the specification for paving grade bitumen. In the early 2000s Australia was self-sufficient in bitumen production but economic pressure through developments in international oil refining capacity has subsequently led to the closure of four Australian refineries each of which were previously key bitumen supply points. In parallel with the reduction in domestic bitumen production, changes have also taken place to the national specification for paving grade bitumen with the elimination of the old C50 grade and the introduction of two new grades C240 and C450. In order maintain bitumen availability and offer the suite of grades described in AS2008, some supply points have introduced in-line blending at the point of bitumen delivery into road tankers. This approach departs from the traditional means of ‘batching’ and certifying individual storage tanks and adopts custody control systems to provide traceability on bitumen quality. This paper describes the approach to in-line blending adopted by one supplier in Australia and details the quality control system that has superseded the traditional bitumen certification process.

• Record URL:
  http://arrbknowledge.com
• Authors:
  • Preston, N
• Conference:
  • AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference, 16th, 2015, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
• Publication Date: 2015-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 13p
• Monograph Title: Innovation driving value: AAPA International Flexible Pavements Conference, 13-16 September 2015, Gold Coast, Queensland

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bitumen; Bituminous materials; Case studies; Manufactures; Manufacturing; Quality assurance; Quality control; Standardization; Standards; Sustainable development
• Uncontrolled Terms: Materials technology (asphalt/bitumen/concrete); Pavement technology
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Australian standard; Bitumen; Case study; Manufacture; Quality control; Sustainability
• ITRD Terms: 8531: Case study
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Geotechnology; I31: Bituminous Binders and Materials;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01588858
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ITRD, ATRI
• Created Date: Jan 29 2016 10:19AM