Polymer Modified Bitumen (Bitocell)
Modified or polymer bitumen is a type of bitumen that is created by adding polymers (polymer materials) to the original bitumen composition. These polymers can be from different polymer families such as styrene butadiene styrene (SBS), styrene isoprene styrene (SIS) or styrene ethylene butadiene styrene (SEBS).
The advantages of bitumen modified with polymers are:
Flexibility and stability:
Adding polymers to bitumen increases its flexibility and stability, which is important in some construction applications.
Corrosion resistance and composition:
Polymers can increase bitumen resistance to some extent, and as a result, the resulting materials have better corrosion resistance and composition.
Decreased sensitivity to temperature:
Some polymers, such as SBS, can reduce bitumen's sensitivity to temperature changes and remain flexible at lower temperatures.
Burst resistance:
Adding polymers to bitumen can increase burst resistance, which is used in some special situations.
Easy integration and setup:
Polymer-modified bituminous materials generally integrate easily with other building materials and may be easier to prepare and install than conventional bitumens.
These types of bitumen are commonly used in waterproofing coatings, asphalt mixtures, and building surface sealing materials.