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Bitumen Grade Classification System

Bitumen Grades and Types for Industrial and Road Applications

Bitumen classification determines performance in road construction, waterproofing, and industrial processes. From penetration grade and viscosity grade (VG) to polymer modified (PMB) and oxidized bitumen — choosing the right grade is critical for project success.

6 Grade Systems Covered
20+ Grade Variants
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Classification Overview

Overview of Bitumen Grades and Classification

Bitumen — also known as asphalt binder — is a petroleum derivative used as a primary road material and industrial binder worldwide. Its classification into standardised grades allows engineers to select the optimal product for each climate zone, traffic load, and application type.

Bitumen classification systems differ by region. The three dominant frameworks are the Penetration Grade system (BS EN 12591 / ASTM D946), the Viscosity Grade (VG) system (IS 73:2013), and the Performance Grade (PG) system (AASHTO M 320 / Superpave). Each framework measures specific physical properties to predict real-world performance.

Beyond road paving, specialised grades — Oxidized Bitumen, Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB), Bitumen Emulsions, and Cutback Bitumen — serve industrial, waterproofing, and maintenance markets. Selecting the correct bitumen classification is the single most important factor in pavement durability.

6
Grade Systems
20+
Grade Variants
40+
Countries Served
Bitumen Overview Bitumen Applications
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Global Classification Standards

  • Penetration Grade
    BS EN 12591 / ASTM D946
  • Viscosity Grade (VG)
    IS 73:2013
  • Performance Grade (PG)
    AASHTO M 320
  • Oxidized / Blown Bitumen
    ISO 13304
  • Emulsion & Cutback
    ASTM D977 / D2028

Road Construction

Penetration grade and VG bitumen are the primary binders for hot mix asphalt, road base layers, and surface courses worldwide.

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Industrial & Waterproofing

Oxidized bitumen is engineered for roofing systems, waterproofing membranes, pipe anti-corrosion coatings, and cable insulation.

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Modified & Specialty

PMB offers enhanced elasticity, anti-rutting, and fatigue life for expressways, airports, and infrastructure under extreme traffic loads.

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Grade System 1

Penetration Grade Bitumen

Penetration grade bitumen is classified by the depth (in 0.1mm units) a standard needle penetrates the sample at 25°C under 100g load for 5 seconds. Softer grades (higher numbers) suit cold climates; harder grades suit hot climates. It is the most widely traded bitumen classification worldwide and is the backbone of road materials supply chains.

30/40

Penetration 30/40

Hardest standard grade. Used in very hot tropical climates where rutting resistance is critical. Common in Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

Hot Climate
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40/50

Penetration 40/50

Widely used for airport runways and heavy-duty roads in warm climates. Offers strong structural performance.

Warm Climate
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POPULAR
60/70

Penetration 60/70

Most popular grade globally. Used in highway paving, urban roads, and industrial zones across temperate and warm climates.

Most Common
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80/100

Penetration 80/100

Softer grade suitable for moderate to cold climates. Used for rural roads, parking areas, and general paving projects.

Moderate Climate
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100/120

Penetration 100/120

Softest standard grade. Ideal for cold climates, acoustic asphalt, and flexible base layers. Common in Northern Europe.

Cold Climate
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Grade System 2

Viscosity Grade Bitumen (VG)

Viscosity Grade (VG) bitumen is specified per IS 73:2013. Grades are defined by absolute viscosity at 60°C (in Poise). VG bitumen has increasingly replaced penetration grade as the standard for road construction in India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. Higher VG numbers indicate harder, more viscous binders.

VG-10 Softest

250–500 Poise @ 60°C

Equivalent to 80/100 penetration grade. Used for cold climates, surface dressing, and spray applications. Ideal for low-temperature regions.

Cold Regions Spray App.
VG-10 Details
VG-20 Medium

800–1600 Poise @ 60°C

Equivalent to 60/70 penetration grade. Used for moderate climates, suburban roads, and flexible pavement in Indian subcontinental conditions.

Moderate Flexible Pave
VG-20 Details
TOP GRADE
VG-30

2400–4800 Poise @ 60°C

Most widely used VG grade. Equivalent to 60/70 pen. Standard for national highways, expressways, and major urban roads in tropical climates.

Highways Most Popular
VG-30 Details
VG-40 Hardest

10000–16000 Poise @ 60°C

Hardest VG grade. Used for airports, heavily loaded industrial roads, and hot regions. Provides maximum rutting resistance.

Very Hot Airports
VG-40 Details

VG vs Penetration Grade: How They Relate

VG-10 ≈ 80/100 Pen | VG-20 ≈ 60/70 Pen | VG-30 ≈ 60/70 Pen (harder) | VG-40 ≈ 30/40 Pen. VG classification is more comprehensive as it also specifies minimum viscosity at 135°C, ensuring safe handling during paving operations.

Grade System 3

Polymer Modified Bitumen (PMB)

PMB is conventional bitumen enhanced with polymers (SBS, EVA, or SBR) to improve elasticity, resistance to permanent deformation, and fatigue life. It is essential for high-traffic highways, bridges, airfields, and extreme climate conditions where standard bitumen grades are insufficient.

PMB-40

Elastic Recovery ≥ 50% @ 13°C

PMB Grade 40

Designed for moderate traffic roads in warm to hot climates. Balances elasticity and stiffness for general highway use. Polymer-enhanced durability reduces maintenance frequency.

Warm Climate Highways
PMB-40 Specs
PREMIUM
PMB-70

Elastic Recovery ≥ 70% @ 13°C

PMB Grade 70

High-performance PMB for expressways, bridges, and areas with extreme temperature variations. Offers excellent fatigue and rutting resistance for heavy-duty pavements.

Expressways Bridges
PMB-70 Specs
PMB-120

Elastic Recovery ≥ 80% @ 13°C

PMB Grade 120

Ultra-high performance polymer modified bitumen for airports, racing circuits, and extreme cold climates. Maximum elastic recovery and crack resistance in freezing temperatures.

Cold Climates Airports
PMB-120 Specs

Rutting Resistance

High Elasticity

Longer Pavement Life

Thermal Stability

Grade System 4

Oxidized Bitumen Grades

Oxidized (or blown) bitumen is produced by passing air through hot bitumen at high temperatures. This process increases softening point and reduces penetration, resulting in a harder, more thermally stable product ideal for industrial applications such as roofing, waterproofing membranes, pipe coatings, and cable filling.

85/25

Softening Point: 85°C | Penetration: 25

Oxidized Bitumen 85/25

Standard industrial grade. Used for roofing felt manufacture, waterproof coatings, and joint fillers. Excellent temperature stability and water resistance.

Roofing Waterproofing
Grade 85/25
90/15

Softening Point: 90°C | Penetration: 15

Oxidized Bitumen 90/15

Medium-hard grade for pipe coating, joint filling, and bituminous paints. Offers superior adhesion and chemical resistance for underground applications.

Pipe Coating Joint Fill
Grade 90/15
115/15

Softening Point: 115°C | Penetration: 15

Oxidized Bitumen 115/15

Hardest standard oxidized grade. Used for cable filling, electrical insulation, specialized industrial coatings, and demanding marine waterproofing applications.

Cable Filling Industrial
Grade 115/15

Oxidized bitumen grades are designated as Softening Point / Penetration. For example, 85/25 means softening point ≥ 85°C and penetration ≤ 25 (×0.1mm). All grades supplied in kraft paper bags (25kg), carton boxes, or drum form.

Grade System 5

Bitumen Emulsion Grades

Bitumen emulsion is a dispersion of bitumen droplets in water, stabilized by an emulsifying agent. It is applied at ambient temperature, making it safer and more eco-friendly than hot-applied bitumen. Emulsions are classified as Rapid Setting (RS), Medium Setting (MS), Slow Setting (SS), and Cationic types (CRS, CSS).

RS-1

Rapid Setting Anionic

Used for surface treatment and tack coat applications on prepared road surfaces. Fast break on contact with aggregates.

RS-1 Details
RS-2

Rapid Setting Anionic

Higher viscosity rapid set grade for surface dressing and chip sealing. Commonly used for road surface maintenance work.

RS-2 Details
POPULAR
CRS-1

Cationic Rapid Set

Most widely used emulsion. Positively charged for better adhesion to negatively charged aggregates. Ideal for tack coat on asphalt surfaces.

CRS-1 Details
CRS-2

Cationic Rapid Set

Higher bitumen content cationic emulsion. Used in chip seal, microsurfacing, and slurry seal treatments for surface rehabilitation.

CRS-2 Details
SS-1H

Slow Setting Anionic

Slow setting grade for soil stabilization, dust suppression, and priming courses. Allows extended working time during application.

SS-1H Details
Grade System 6

Cutback Bitumen Grades

Cutback bitumen is produced by blending bitumen with petroleum solvents (diluents) to temporarily reduce its viscosity for cold-weather application. Once applied, the solvent evaporates and the bitumen hardens. MC (Medium Curing) grades are the most common, classified by kinematic viscosity.

MC-30

25–75 cSt @ 60°C

MC-30 Cutback

Lowest viscosity grade. Used for prime coating, penetration macadam, and fog sealing on cold or damp surfaces.

MC-30 Details
MC-70

70–140 cSt @ 60°C

MC-70 Cutback

Used for road construction in cold weather conditions. Applied as a base primer before hot mix or surface treatment.

MC-70 Details
STANDARD
MC-250

250–500 cSt @ 60°C

MC-250 Cutback

Medium curing standard for priming, tack coat, and penetration macadam. Common in road maintenance projects.

MC-250 Details
MC-800

800–1600 cSt @ 60°C

MC-800 Cutback

Higher viscosity cutback for heavier applications in cold weather construction. Used in stockpile patching mixes and cold-applied asphalt.

MC-800 Details
MC-3000

3000–6000 cSt @ 60°C

MC-3000 Cutback

Highest viscosity cutback grade. For dense graded cold mix, heavy base course, and industrial patching in extreme cold conditions.

MC-3000 Details

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Grade Comparison

Comparison Between Bitumen Grades

Side-by-side comparisons between frequently substituted grades help procurement teams and project engineers choose the optimal asphalt binder for their specific project requirements, climate zone, and budget.

60/70 vs 80/100

60/70 is harder and better for hot climates with heavy traffic. 80/100 is softer, better for moderate climates and rural roads. Climate and traffic volume determine the optimal choice.

Highways Rural Roads
Full Comparison
VG-30 vs 60/70

VG-30 and 60/70 are frequently treated as equivalent but VG-30 adds minimum viscosity at 135°C for better workability control. VG specification is more comprehensive and preferred for modern roads.

Interchangeable Modern Spec
Full Comparison
Oxidized vs Penetration

Penetration grade is for road paving; oxidized bitumen is for industrial applications. Both are petroleum derivatives but have fundamentally different production processes and end uses.

Industrial Road Paving
Full Comparison

Quick Grade Reference Table

Grade Type System Primary Use Climate Standard
60/70 Penetration Road Paving Hot – Warm BS EN 12591
VG-30 Viscosity Highways Tropical IS 73:2013
PMB-70 Polymer Modified Expressways All Climates IRC SP 53
90/15 Oxidized Waterproofing All Climates ISO 13304
CRS-1 Emulsion Tack Coat Ambient ASTM D977
Grade Selection Guide

Choosing the Right Bitumen Grade

Grade selection is determined by three main factors: climate zone, project type & traffic load, and performance specifications. Selecting the wrong grade leads to premature pavement failure, rutting, or cracking — all of which increase long-term project costs significantly.

Climate Zone

  • Very Hot (>40°C): 30/40, 40/50, VG-40 — harder grades resist rutting
  • Warm Tropical: 60/70, VG-30 — optimal balance for most applications
  • Moderate: 80/100, VG-20 — softer grades for flexibility in cold nights
  • Cold (<0°C winters): 100/120, VG-10, PMB-120 — maximum flexibility

Project Type & Traffic

  • Highways & Expressways: PMB-70, VG-40 for maximum performance
  • Urban Roads: 60/70 or VG-30 — standard performance and availability
  • Roofing & Waterproofing: Oxidized bitumen 85/25 or 90/15
  • Maintenance & Tack: CRS-1 emulsion or MC-250 cutback

Performance Requirements

  • Anti-Rutting: Use harder grades or PMB with high elastic recovery
  • Anti-Cracking: Softer grades or PMB with high ductility at low temps
  • Fatigue Life: PMB and VG grades with high viscosity outperform standard pen grades
  • Adhesion: Cationic emulsions provide best adhesion to siliceous aggregates

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We supply all bitumen grades in bulk to 40+ countries. Whether you need penetration grade, VG, PMB, oxidized, emulsion, or cutback — get a competitive quote within 24 hours.

Road Construction Grades

60/70, 80/100, VG-30, VG-40 in bulk tankers, new drums, or bitutainers. Min. order: 20MT.

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Modified & Specialty Grades

PMB-40, PMB-70, PMB-120, and oxidized grades in bag, drum, or bulk format. Technical support included.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions About Bitumen Grades

Expert answers to the most common questions about bitumen classification, grade selection, and supply.

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