Selection and blending of feeds for asphalt manufacture

A method for forming an asphalt blend, comprising:

• measuring two or more viscosities for a plurality of asphalt components, each measured viscosity being measured at a different temperature to form a plurality of data points for each of the plurality of asphalt components
• obtaining a characteristic temperature value and a characteristic viscosity value for each of the plurality of asphalt components by using the plurality of data points for each of the plurality of asphalt components to generate asymptotic limit values to form a viscosity (ηinf) and temperature (T0) relationship;
• selecting a target characteristic temperature value range and a target characteristic viscosity value range for an asphalt blend, the target characteristic temperature value range and the target characteristic viscosity value range corresponding to an asphalt having at least a first target asphalt property value range and a second target asphalt property value range;
• and
• forming an asphalt blend from the plurality of asphalt components, a volume percentage for each asphalt component in the asphalt blend being selected based on the target characteristic temperature value range and the target characteristic viscosity value range using the viscosity (ηinf) and temperature (T0) relationship,
• wherein 35 vol % or less of the asphalt components in the asphalt blend have g) a component first target asphalt property value that differs from the first target asphalt property value by 5% or less, h) a component second target asphalt property value that differs from the second target asphalt property value by 5% or less, i) a characteristic temperature that differs from the target characteristic temperature value range by 10 Kelvin or less, j) a characteristic viscosity that differs from the target characteristic viscosity value range by 10% or less, or a combination of a plurality of g), h), i) and j).