Let us pay yours attention to very special wax to modify bitumen – Sasobit®.
Sasobit® and paraffins which are naturally found in bitumen are not comparable just because normally paraffins have just 22-45 carbon atoms chain, while Sasobit® carbon atoms chain is much longer 40 – 115 atoms.
Why Sasobit® is so special and how it works?
Sasobit® – singnificantly improves workability of the mix and it’s compactibility.
This product melts at temperature 85-115° C and reduce neat or polymer modified bitumen’s viscosity at higher temperature range.
Moreover – Sasobit® additionally improves mechanical properties of the mix (asphalt layer), so it becomes more resistant to rutting formation.
We have to bear in mind, that Sasobit® does not change bitumen’s Fraas point, so it remains the same as before modification.
Sasobit® melts and mix well with the bitumen at 140° C.
Here below is some data about influence Sasobit® does to bitumen 50/70 and 70/100:
| B 50/70 | SmB 35 | B 70/100 | SmB 45 | |
| Base bitumen | 50/70 | 70/100 | ||
| Bitumen content, % | 100 | 97 | 100 | 97 |
| Sasobit® content, % | – | 3 | – | 3 |
| Bitumen softening temperature (R&B), °C | 48-54 | 75-85 | 43-49 | 70-80 |
| Penetration at 25°C (1/10 mm) | 50-70 | 30-50 | 70-100 | 35-55 |
| Bitumen Fraas temperature, °C | – 8 | – 8 | – 10 | – 10 |
Recommended Sasobit® dose – 3% from bitumen weight.