bitumen

Thickness and basis-weight quality control of flat, preformed bitumen-related products

Bitumen, consisting essentially of hydrocarbons and their derivatives, is substantially nonvolatile and softens gradually when heated. It is obtained by refinery processes from petroleum and possesses water proofing and adhesive properties. The primary use of bitumen 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 (membrane) products, including basement waterproofing membranes and roofing felt for sealing flat roofs. In addition, bitumen is used in other household and industrial applications, from emulsion paints to sound-proofing. Hammer-IMS measurement solutions are suitable for both thickness and basis-weight quality control of flat bitumen material.

Numerous variants of bitumen-related products are used in road and building construction. Oxidized and polymer-modified bituminous membranes are applied for waterproofing of basement walls and floors, to avoid ground water seepage. Roofing felt or roll roofing products are used to construct roofs and protect them years-round. Thermoplastic (single-ply) waterproofing membranes are developed to deliver high thermal insulation, waterproof and airtight construction, and reduced carbon footprint. Typically, waterproofing membrane products come in the form of rolls manufactures.

Quality control is conducted on bitumen-related products to assess a range of characteristics: consistency, durability, gradation, water absorption, viscosity, temperature susceptibility, safety, etc. Also product thickness and basis-weight need to conform with regulatory and market-driven specifications, often between plus and minus 10% of nominal. Hammer-IMS measurement solutions are suitable for thickness and basis-weight quality control of flat bitumen-related material. The measurement systems are non-nuclear in nature and serve as part of inline production lines or offline for sampling or engineering purposes. Continuous thickness and basis-weight measurements ensure product uniformity across the entire surface.