Blog

The Black Rock Bitumen blog is written for the people who specify, buy and lay bitumen: procurement teams, road contractors, traders and engineers working on public and private projects. Each article answers a practical question we hear from buyers, so you can make better decisions before you place an order.

You will find guidance on choosing a grade, such as 60/70 vs 80/100 and grade selection by climate; on testing and documents, including how to read a COA and key test parameters; on storage, packaging and shipping, from bulk vs drum vs flexitank to storage and handling mistakes; and on market and supply risk for large infrastructure programmes.

Browse the latest articles below. If you have a question that is not covered yet, contact our team and we will be happy to help.

Topics We Cover

Our articles are grouped around the decisions buyers face most often. Grades and specifications explain penetration, viscosity, performance and polymer modified grades and the ASTM, EN and BIS standards behind them. Quality and testing covers certificates of analysis, technical data sheets, softening point, ductility and flash point. Logistics looks at packaging, shelf life, storage temperatures and shipping documents. Procurement and markets discusses supply risk, total cost of ownership and the price drivers that affect long-term contracts. New articles are added regularly, so check back or explore our products while you read.