ayy Designation: D 2399 - 83 (Reapproved 1991)
Standard Practice for
Selection of Cutback Asphalts'
This standard is sted under the fixed designation D 2399; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of ast revision,
'A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
supersript epsilon (indicates an editorial change since the lst revision or reapprova.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the selection of cutback asphalts
of the slow, medium and rapid curing types for various
paving and allied uses. Slow-curing cutback asphalts are also
called road oi
2, Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1D 2026 Specification for Cutback Asphalt (Slow-Curing
Type?
12027 Specification for Cutback Asphalt (Medium-
Curing Type)
D 2028 Specification for Cutback Asphalt (Rapid-Curing
Type?
3. Significance and Use
3.1 This practice defines various types of bituminous
paving construction for which cutback asphalt may be used,
In addition, it delineates the types and grades recommended
for each specific use.
3.2 This practice provides the basic concepts on which the
use recommendations have been made. It also provides a
rationale by which the user may judiciously select a material
for a specific job application from among those generally
recommended.
4. Definitions
4.1 bitumen-ageregate applications—the spraying of
liquid bitumen on prepared aggregate or pavement surfaces,
which subsequently are covered with graded aggregate.
4.2. bitumen-aggregate mixture—a combination of bitu-
minous material and aggregate that is physically mixed by
mechanical and thermal means, spread on the job-site, and
compacted,
4.3. bitumen applications—the uses of sprayed bituminous
coatings not involving the use of aggregates. Uses of liquid
bitumen in this group are all classed as treatments. (See
surface treatments.)
4.4 cold-laid plant mix—a mixture of liquid bitumen and
mineral aggregate prepared in a central bituminous mixing
plant and spread and compacted at the job-site when the
mixture is at or near ambient temperature.
45 dense-graded aggregate—aggregate that is graded
from the maximum size down to filler with the object of
* This practice is under te jurisdiction of ASTM Commitee D-4on Road and
Paving Materials and i the direct responsibilty of Subsommitee D040 on
Asphalt Specifications.
‘Current edition approved March 25, 1983. Published November 1983. Org-
aly published as D 2399 65 T. Last previous edition D2399 ~ 81
2 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 08.03,
218
obtaining a bituminous mix with a controlled void content
and high stability.
4.6 dust binder—a light application of bituminous mate-
rial for the express purpose of laying and bonding loose dust.
4.7 mixed-in-place (road mix)—a bituminous course pro-
duced by mixing mineral aggregate and liquid bitumen at the
job-site by means of travel plants, motor graders, drags, or
special road-mixing equipment, Pavement base and surfaces,
mixed in place, may utilize open-graded aggregates (4.10),
dense-graded aggregates (4.5), sand (4.15), or sandy soil
(4.17).
4.8 mulch treatment—a spray application of bituminous
‘material used to temporarily stabilize a recently seeded area.
The bitumen can also be applied to straw or hay mulch as a
tie-down,
4.9 multiple surface treatment—two or more surface treat-
‘ments placed one on the other. The maximum aggregate size
of each successive treatment is usually one half that of the
previous one, and the total thickness is about the same as the
nominal maximum size aggregate particles of the Fist course.
4.10 open-graded aggregate—one containing little or no
‘mineral filler and in which the void spaces in the compacted
aggregate are relatively large.
4.11 patch mix—a mixture of bituminous material and
mineral aggregate for patching holes, depressions, and dis-
tressed areas in existing pavements. These mixes are suitable
for use in relatively small areas, applied at ambient temper-
ature using hand-laying and hand-compaction techniques.
These mixes may be designed for immediate use or for
stock-piling for a period of time prior to use.
4.12 pavement base and surfaces—the lower or under-
lying pavement course atop the subbase or subgrade and the
top or wearing course. Cold-laid mixtures that are bound
together with liquid bitumens use either open or dense
aggregate gradations.
4.13 penetration macadam—a pavement construction
using essentially one-size coarse aggregate, which is pene-
trated in place by a heavy application of high viscosity
bituminous material. This application is followed by an
application of a smaller size coarse aggregate (10 reduce the
void space) then is rolled thoroughly. This procedure is
usually followed another time with a still smaller coarse
aggregate and roller compaction.
4.14 prime coat—an application of a low-viscosity bitumi-
‘nous material to an absorptive surface, designed to penetrate,
bond, and stabilize the existing surface and to promote
adhesion between it and the construction course that follows.
4.15 sand—a clean, mineral aggregate material passing a
4.75-mm sieve, but only about 5 % passing the 75-um sieve.i) D 2399
4.16 sand seal—a thin layer of spray-applied bitumen
uniformly covered with sand (see 4.15), which waterproofs
and improves the texture of a pavement surface.
4,17 sandy soi!—a material consisting essentially of fine
aggregate particles smaller than 2,00-mm sieve and usually
containing up to 20 % passing a 75-m sieve. This material
usually exhibits plasticity characteristics.
4.18 single-surface treatment—a single application of bi-
‘tumen to any kind of road surface followed immediately by a
single layer of aggregate of as uniform a size as practicable.
‘The thickness of the treatment is about the same as the
nominal maximum size aggregate particles. A single-surface
‘treatment is used as a wearing and waterproofing course.
4.19. surface treatments—applications of bituminous ma-
terials to any type of road or pavement surface that produce
an increase in thickness of less than 1 in.
4.20 tack coat—an application of bituminous material
applied to an existing, relatively nonabsorbent surface to
provide a thorough bond between old and new surfacing.
5. Precautions
5.1 For some of the uses recommended in Table 1, the
cutback asphalt may be applied at temperatures above its,
flash point. Caution, therefore, must be exercised at all times
in handling these materials to prevent fire or an explosion.
6. Recommended Uses
6.1 The recommendations shown in Table 1 are for use
only as a guide in paving and road construction, Several
cutback materials may be recommended in the table for a
general construction procedure. Selection of a particular
material will depend on local practice, availability, traffic,
and environmental conditions for the specific project being
considered.
6.2 Cutback asphalts are constituted from a base asphalt
of selected hardness or viscosity dissolved in a solvent of
219
high, medium, or low volatility to provide distinct differ-
ences for construction purposes among the types. Slow
curing cutbacks alternatively may be made directly by
distillation. Upon exposure to atmospheric conditions, the
highly volatile naphtha-type solvent in rapid-curing blends
evaporates quickly and leaves a hard, viscous-base asphalt to
function with aggregate in the road. A less volatile kerosine-
type solvent evaporates more slowly from medium-curing
blends and leaves a base asphalt of medium hardness or
viscosity. Slow-curing blends contain a low-volatility fuel-oil
type solvent and thus require the longest curing period. They
leave a soft, low-viscosity asphalt on the aggregate. Both the
curing rate and characteristics of the residual asphalt are
factors to be considered in the selection of liquid asphalts for
various uses. However, primary consideration should be
given to hardness or viscosity of the remaining asphalt in
relation to gradation of the aggregate with which it is used.
One-size aggregates, or open-graded ones deficient in fines,
require harder asphalts while softer materials may be used
with dense-graded ageregates
6.3 The choice of cutback asphalt grade (viscosity) within
any given type is generally controlled by the method of
construction (application or mix type and method of mixing)
and by climatic conditions during construction. Applications
that require infiltration of the aggregate necessitate a low
enough viscosity to penetrate (prime coat) and a viscosity
high enough to be retained on the aggregate (penetration
macadam). Tack coats require low viscosity 10 achieve
coverage with a thin film of residual asphalt. Surface
treatment and seal coat types require a viscosity low enough
to achieve wetting but high enough to prevent run-off from
road crown or grade. With regard to mix types, higher
viscosity materials may be used when the method is positive
and efficient (plant mix) and the weather is warm. With less
efficient mixing methods (road mix) and in cooler weather,
lower viscosity materials may be needed.4) D 2399
TABLE 1 Cutback Asphalt Recommendations for General Paving Uses
ecormended Cutbeck Asphalt
— at Rapid Curing (0 2028) Medium-Caring (02027) Slon-Curing (0 2028)
RO RG RGM MCG
7250 600 0007050800708
g
t
j
i
i
Large vids x x
‘Smal vods x
‘Bruen appcaton:
‘Surface treatment
Pre coat, open surfaces
Prime coat, Sgt sursoes
“Tack coat
Dist bder
Much treatment
“For definitions of terms used in this table, refer to Socton 4
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