Bitumen cutback compositions and methods of use thereof

Abstract

A bitumen cutback composition is described substantially comprising Compound A with a formula: R1-X—R2  [COMPOUND A] where R1 is alkyl or phenyl hydrocarbon group; X is an O—C═O group; and R2 is a C1-C13 hydrocarbon chain branched or non-branched, with none, one, or more than one, oxygen interruption(s). The bitumen cutback composition may comprise: alkyl esters of fatty acids, esters of trihydroxy alcohols, mono ester, or di, or tri, hydroxy alcohols, phenyl alkyl esters, phenoxy alcohols and their esters, ether alcohols and their esters, and combinations thereof. Cutback bitumen mixtures are described comprising bitumen; and bitumen cutback composition. The cutback bitumen mixtures may be configured as a hot mix composition; a cold mix composition; or an emulsion, the emulsion further comprising an aqueous compound. Methods of temporarily reducing a viscosity of bitumen and methods of applying bitumen to a substrate are also described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.