Trinidad Epuré
The refined and filled natural product “Trinidad Epuré” (TE) shows the following, always constant composition:
| soluble bitumen | 53 – 55 Gew.-% | i. M. 54,0 Gew.-% |
| mineral aggregates | 36 – 37 Gew.-% | i. M. 36,5 Gew.-% |
| residual constituents | 9 – 10 Gew.-% | i. M. 9,5 Gew.-% |
The term “residual constituents” refers to components of the Trinidad Epuré which cannot be considered either as bitumen or as aggregate. They can be determined by incineration.
Aggregates plus “residual constituents” amount to a maximum 46,0 M.-% of Trinidad Epuré. They are made up as follows:
| < 0,09 mm | 82,0 M.-% |
| 0,09 – 0,25 mm | 18,0 M.-% |
Since Trinidad Epuré can only be added to the asphalt in amounts up to a maximum of 3,0 M.-%, the asphalt mix will only contain a maximum of 0,3 M.-% of “remaining components”, or 0,5 M.-% of the grain size < 0,09 mm. As a result of these low amounts it is permissible and technically justifiable to consider the “remaining constituents” as a filler (0 – 0.09 mm). Trinidad Epuré also contains crystalline-bound water. This cannot be removed from the Trinidad Epuré by the binder extraction process. It is only partially released at temperatures > 150 °C and is to some extent the cause of the good workability for which Trinidad natural asphalt is known. This water content is disregarded in calculations regarding Trinidad natural asphalt products.
Other properties:
| Colour | matt black |
| Density | 1,40 – 1,42 g/cm³ |
| Penetration | 1,00 – 4 mm-1 |
| SP RuK | 93 – 98 °C |
| Sulphur content | 6 – 8 M.-% |
Soluble bitumen obtained by extraction from the Trinidad Epuré in accordance with DIN 1996 part 6 has the following properties:
| Density | 1,06 – 1,08 g/cm³ |
| Penetration | 3,00 – 12 mm-1 |
| softening point RuK | 68 – 78 °C |