Penetration Bitumen (Pen Bitumen)
Penetration bitumen is a family of refinery-produced paving binders classified by the depth to which a standardized needle penetrates the material under specified test conditions. Petro Naft supplies a broad portfolio from very hard 10/20 grade to very soft 200/300 grade for project-specific paving, asphalt-production, blending, and selected industrial requirements.
What Is Penetration Bitumen?
A practical introduction to penetration-grade classification, consistency, specification, and the role of grade selection in asphalt and pavement design. For related binder and asphalt product families, explore the Bitumen & Asphalt portfolio .
Penetration bitumen, also called pen bitumen or penetration-grade bitumen, is a semi-solid petroleum binder whose commercial grade is identified by a penetration interval. The test measures consistency by recording needle penetration in tenths of a millimetre under controlled load, time, and temperature conditions.
A higher penetration value indicates a softer consistency, while a lower value indicates a firmer consistency. The grade designation is an important first filter, but it is not a complete performance specification. Softening point, viscosity, aging resistance, flash point, solubility, ductility or related mechanical properties, and regional conformity requirements may also apply.
Paving-grade bitumen is used in the construction and maintenance of roads, airfields, and other paved areas. The selected grade must be compatible with climate, traffic, pavement structure, aggregate characteristics, asphalt-mixture design, reclaimed-material content, plant conditions, and the governing project specification.
Relative consistency labels on this page are navigation aids based only on the penetration designation. They are not substitutes for laboratory data, regional standards, mix design, or project approval.
Explore All Penetration Bitumen Grades
Select a grade to review its dedicated product information. Availability, specification, documentation, packaging, origin, and delivery terms must be confirmed for each inquiry.
Very hard and hard grades
Lower penetration ranges provide a firmer consistency within the portfolio.
PENETRATION BITUMEN 10-20 (BITUMEN 10/20)
Nominal penetration designation: 10-20 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 20-30 (BITUMEN 20/30)
Nominal penetration designation: 20-30 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 30-40 (BITUMEN 30/40)
Nominal penetration designation: 30-40 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 30-45 (BITUMEN 30/45)
Nominal penetration designation: 30-45 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 35-50 (BITUMEN 35/50)
Nominal penetration designation: 35-50 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsHard-to-medium grades
Intermediate lower ranges bridge high stiffness and processing workability.
PENETRATION BITUMEN 40-50 (BITUMEN 40/50)
Nominal penetration designation: 40-50 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 40-60 (BITUMEN 40/60)
Nominal penetration designation: 40-60 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsMedium grades
Balanced penetration ranges commonly evaluated for paving and asphalt-production requirements.
PENETRATION BITUMEN 50-70 (BITUMEN 50/70)
Nominal penetration designation: 50-70 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 60-70 (BITUMEN 60/70)
Nominal penetration designation: 60-70 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsMedium-to-soft and soft grades
Higher penetration ranges provide progressively softer consistency and greater temperature sensitivity.
PENETRATION BITUMEN 70-100 (BITUMEN 70/100)
Nominal penetration designation: 70-100 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 80-100 (BITUMEN 80/100)
Nominal penetration designation: 80-100 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 85-100 (BITUMEN 85/100)
Nominal penetration designation: 85-100 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 100-150 (BITUMEN 100/150)
Nominal penetration designation: 100-150 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 120-150 (BITUMEN 120/150)
Nominal penetration designation: 120-150 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsVery soft grades
The highest penetration ranges represent the softest consistency in this portfolio.
PENETRATION BITUMEN 160-220 (BITUMEN 160/220)
Nominal penetration designation: 160-220 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPENETRATION BITUMEN 200-300 (BITUMEN 200/300)
Nominal penetration designation: 200-300 units of 0.1 mm. Review the grade page, applicable TDS, project specification, and supply terms before selection.
View grade detailsPenetration Grade Comparison Table
This table compares the grade designations and their relative consistency positions. It does not state guaranteed product values beyond the nominal penetration range shown in each grade name.
| Commercial grade | Nominal penetration range | Relative portfolio position |
|---|---|---|
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 10-20 (BITUMEN 10/20) | 10-20 | Very hard |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 20-30 (BITUMEN 20/30) | 20-30 | Very hard |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 30-40 (BITUMEN 30/40) | 30-40 | Hard |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 30-45 (BITUMEN 30/45) | 30-45 | Hard |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 35-50 (BITUMEN 35/50) | 35-50 | Hard |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 40-50 (BITUMEN 40/50) | 40-50 | Hard to medium |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 40-60 (BITUMEN 40/60) | 40-60 | Hard to medium |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 50-70 (BITUMEN 50/70) | 50-70 | Medium |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 60-70 (BITUMEN 60/70) | 60-70 | Medium |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 70-100 (BITUMEN 70/100) | 70-100 | Medium to soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 80-100 (BITUMEN 80/100) | 80-100 | Medium to soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 85-100 (BITUMEN 85/100) | 85-100 | Medium to soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 100-150 (BITUMEN 100/150) | 100-150 | Soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 120-150 (BITUMEN 120/150) | 120-150 | Soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 160-220 (BITUMEN 160/220) | 160-220 | Very soft |
| PENETRATION BITUMEN 200-300 (BITUMEN 200/300) | 200-300 | Very soft |
Grade intervals can overlap. Products with overlapping penetration ranges are not automatically interchangeable, because other specification properties and contractual requirements may differ.
How to Select a Penetration Bitumen Grade
Grade selection should be completed by the project designer, asphalt technologist, approved laboratory, or governing authority using the complete specification.
Confirm the governing standard
Identify the national, regional, client, airport, road-agency, or contract specification and the required test editions.
Evaluate service conditions
Consider pavement temperature, climate range, traffic loading, speed, layer position, drainage, and expected service life.
Review mixture variables
Account for aggregate mineralogy, grading, binder content, reclaimed asphalt, additives, plant process, and compaction window.
Approve with testing
Verify binder conformity and complete laboratory mix design, production trials, and field acceptance where required.
General consistency tendency
Lower penetration grades are firmer and may be considered where greater high-temperature consistency or stiffness is required. Higher penetration grades are softer and may offer easier workability or greater low-temperature flexibility. These are general tendencies, not universal application rules.
Applications of Penetration Bitumen
The family supports a wide range of professional uses, subject to grade suitability, formulation, processing, and project qualification.
Hot Mix Asphalt
Asphalt concrete and other plant-produced mixtures for wearing, binder, base, levelling, and rehabilitation layers.
Road and Urban Pavements
Highways, urban roads, access roads, industrial yards, parking areas, and other trafficked pavements.
Airfield Pavements
Selected runway, taxiway, and apron mixtures where the grade and full specification are approved for the project.
Surface Treatments
Certain grades may be used directly or as feedstock for surface-dressing, sealing, emulsion, or cutback systems.
Recycling and Blending
Softer or harder grades may be evaluated as components in binder blending or asphalt mixtures containing reclaimed materials.
Selected Industrial Uses
Some paving grades may also be evaluated for mastics, membranes, compounds, and other industrial formulations.
Properties Commonly Reviewed
Test methods and acceptance limits vary by standard, grade, market, application, and contract. Use the editions named in the governing specification.
Needle Penetration
ASTM D5/D5M or EN 1426 measures consistency by needle penetration under specified conditions.
Softening Point
ASTM D36/D36M or EN 1427 uses the Ring-and-Ball method to characterize softening behaviour.
Viscosity
Viscosity at specified temperatures can support pumping, mixing, coating, compaction, and handling decisions.
Resistance to Hardening
TFOT or RTFOT methods may be used to assess changes caused by controlled heat-and-air aging.
Flash Point and Solubility
Applicable methods verify safety-related flash-point requirements and the soluble bituminous fraction.
Additional Regional Properties
Ductility, breaking point, penetration index, density, retained penetration, or other properties may be specified.
Specification note
EN 12591 provides a specification framework for paving-grade bitumens, while hard paving grades may be addressed through EN 13924-1. Other markets may use ASTM, AASHTO, national, refinery, client, or project-specific specifications. Commercial grade names do not establish automatic equivalence.
Bitumen Pricing and Related Articles
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Bitumen Price Information
Review current public bitumen price indications and market context for planning purposes. Published indications are not firm offers; final pricing depends on grade, specification, origin, quantity, packaging, delivery basis, destination, compliance, availability, and timing.
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Browse Bitumen ArticlesPenetration Bitumen FAQ
Core questions for buyers, asphalt producers, laboratories, consultants, and project teams.
What is the difference between penetration bitumen and pen bitumen?
They are common commercial names for the same product family. “Pen” is an abbreviation of penetration, referring to the needle-penetration consistency test used in grade designation.
Does a higher grade number mean a harder bitumen?
No. Higher penetration values indicate a softer consistency. For example, 100/150 is softer by penetration than 40/50, subject to confirmation of the complete product specifications.
Are overlapping grades interchangeable?
Not automatically. Grades such as 70/100, 80/100, and 85/100 overlap, but other properties, test methods, regional requirements, production targets, and contractual limits may differ.
Which penetration grade is best for road construction?
There is no universal best grade. Selection depends on the governing specification, pavement temperatures, traffic, layer function, aggregate, asphalt-mixture design, recycled-material content, construction conditions, and laboratory approval.
Can penetration bitumen be used for airfield pavements?
Paving-grade bitumen can be specified for airfields, but the binder and mixture must satisfy the airport authority, consultant, project specification, performance requirements, and quality plan.
What information should be included in a purchase inquiry?
Provide the required grade, specification and test methods, quantity, packaging, destination, delivery basis, shipment schedule, intended application, and any inspection or documentation requirements.
Request a Penetration Bitumen Offer
Submit the required grade, specification, quantity, packaging, destination, delivery basis, and shipment period. Petro Naft will review the technical and commercial requirements before preparing an offer.
Technical notice: This family page is a selection and navigation resource. Relative consistency labels and application guidance are general. Final supply is governed by the agreed grade-specific specification, current technical and safety documents, contractual terms, project approval, and applicable regulations.