Bitumen is naturally occurring and is a black, sticky and highly vicious form of petroleum. It is so thick and heavy that it must be diluted or heated before it will flow. It is naturally occurring and sometimes specified by the term “Crude Bitumen”. Its viscosity is similar to that of cold molasses while the material obtained from the fractional distillation of crude oil boiling at 525°C (977°F) is sometimes referred to as “Refined Bitumen”.

The primary use (70%) of Asphalt is in road construction, where it is used as the glue or binder mixed with aggregate particles to create asphalt concrete. Its other main uses are for bituminous waterproofing products, including production of roofing felt and for sealing flat roofs. The material can be found in various forms; tar and it is derived from oil, rock asphalt and it is natural.

The components of asphalt are classified into four classes of compounds:

Saturates, the % saturates correlates with softening point of the material
Naphthene aromatics, consisting of partially hydrogenated Polycyclic aromatic compounds.
Polar aromatics, consisting of high molecular weight Phenols and carboxylic acids.
Asphaltenes, consisting of high molecular weight Phenols and heterocyclic compounds.
In 2016 the world’s demand for this commodity accounts for more than 100 million tons per year, which is approximately 1400 million barrels consumed yearly. It is often referred to as asphalt or tar.