Bituminy

Bituminy, also known as bitumens, are a class of highly viscous, black or dark brown organic substances composed primarily of heavy hydrocarbons with heteroatoms such as sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen. They occur naturally in asphalt deposits and are produced during the refining of crude oil. Natural bitumen forms in hydrocarbon-rich formations and can be mined or recovered in-situ; refined bitumen is produced from heavy crude or oil sands by separation and upgrading. The core components are asphaltenes, resins and oils, and their relative proportions influence hardness and temperature behavior.

Bitumen is non-polar and hydrophobic, with very high viscosity at room temperature and a tendency to soften when heated. It is thermoplastic and can be oxidized to yield harder, more temperature-stable products (oxidized or blown bitumen). It can also be blended with polymers or other modifiers to achieve desired performance.

Major uses include road paving (asphalt concrete), roofing and waterproofing, sealants, protective coatings and insulation. It is marketed as asphalt or bitumen, often in the form of emulsions or modified blends such as polymer-modified bitumen, which improve elasticity and resilience.

Extraction and processing raise environmental concerns, including energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and land disturbance. Recycled asphalt pavement and cold-mix emulsions help reduce impacts. Health risks are mainly associated with fumes during heating and handling. Bitumen has a long history of use, dating back to ancient times for waterproofing and construction, with modern applications expanding through refining and material science advances.