Maintain high standards in challenging bitumen world
Fluctuations in bitumen quality are rising in recent years. Refineries often need to alternate their sources of crude oil, resulting in changing quality of distillates coming out of the processes.
It becomes more and more challenging for bitumen users to develop a stable, high-quality product in applications such as roofing and paving. Here at Brenntag we have the technology, technical capabilities and over 30 years of experience and know-how to support you with overcoming these challenges.
We can help you develop and evaluate your solutions, stabilizing your end product quality, improving output with our bitumen additives and modifiers, which have proven their worth over the years.
If you’re interested feel free to contact us.
Bitumen in Brenntag
With many years of experience, we are the partner to help you navigate the bitumen world. From our Application and Innovation centre in Wavre (Belgium), we serve our partners in every corner of the world, supporting developments and innovation for their products.
Our main areas of our expertise include:
- modified bitumen waterproofing membranes and PMB/PMA
- paving, for high end road surfaces
- other bitumen products, coatings, paints etc.
Our offering
Elastomers
Poly(styrene-butadiene-styrene) or SBS can be used to improve properties like:
- Cold flex
- Ring and ball at lower temperatures
- Viscosity.
Polyolefins
Atactic Polypropylene or APP and Amorphous polyalphaolefins (APAO) are used to:
- Improve ring-and ball
- Improve Penetration at higher temperatures
- Improve UV resistance of mixture
Specialty waxes and other additives
We have a quite a large offering in waxes and additives that can finetune and optimise bitumen formulations from a performance and economic perspective.
Our approach
We collaborate with our customers and suppliers to develop innovative solutions to the most challenging circumstances.
We would like to share two of these customer experiences with you:
First case
First case came to us by a partner which is also active in the recycling of polymers. They had a waste stream which created no value for them. The challenge here was to up-cycle the material and find an application and customer for the SBS-type material. We first analysed the quality of the product stream in our lab in Wavre. Armed with these results, we started looking for possible customers. One of the areas we looked, were backings for Carpet Tiles. One of the potential customers was looking to use recycled materials, this amongst others to reduce the environmental footprint.
The quality standards and requirements fitted very well with the quality of the recycled SBS polymer product. After extensive application testing at the customer, the material was approved, resulting in a satisfied customer. In addition, we created value for one of our partners, reducing the cost on his operations. The material is commercially available under the name ALPHA SBS ECO 18.
Second case
The second example that might be of interest came from a partner based in the United Kingdom. They were looking for an alternative to Oxidized Bitumen due to some EHS concerns. Idea was to move to a Straight Run (SR) Bitumen. As the physical properties of these two types of products differ quite a bit, not a very easy thing to do. In addition, the customer stated clearly that the overall cost of the recipes could not increase.
Also here, we screened the reference S-R Bitumen products in our lab and looked in our database for possible alternative solutions. We have quite an extensive waxes’ database that can be used to finetune the properties of the bitumen. After more than 20 waxes and combinations were tested, we found a recipe of 3 ingredients that could get the job done.
Our customer tested and accepted the proposal and now is supplied by us with this solution. Aside from the technical solution, we provide a logistical solution with respect for EHS concerns and all combined still make very much economic sense.
These examples are just to show our method of operation, we listen to our customers’ needs and develop a solution together. We have a substantial experience and know how in Wavre that we use to find solution on a global scale.
If you have questions or issues with your bitumen, product recipes, or process, reach out to us for assistance. We're eager to help find a solution together.