Bitumen Performance Grade (PG bitumen) is a type of bitumen which is graded according to its performance at different alternating temperatures.

One of the outcomes of this project was a performance-based binder specification employing a new set of tests. Performance Grade (PG) Bitumen is bitumen is graded based on its performance indicated in different temperatures. In Super pave grading system, according to their performance in extreme hot and cold temperatures, binders are classified and are called as performance grade (PG) bitumen.

The main goal of grading asphalt binder using the PG system and selecting it is to make sure that the binder has the appropriate properties needed for environmental situation it’s going to be used in. PG asphalt binders are selected to suit the expected climatic conditions as well as volume adjustments and traffic speed. Therefore, the PG system uses a set of tests to measure physical properties of the binder which can be directly related to field performance in the paving situation.

There is a tendency to divide PG grade into two divisions of high-temperature and low-temperature pavement services. Here comes the major issue for high-temperature performance which is rutting, that normally takes a while to amass. Thus, the temperature is measured within a week and the highest is considered to be the high climatic temperature. On the other side, there is a possibility for thermal cracking at low temperature. For both high and low temperature, PG grades are graded in 6 c rise. The average seven-day maximum pavement temperature typically changes from 46 c to 82 c and the minimum pavement temperature changes from -46 c to -10 c. For instance, bitumen PG 64-10 meets performance factor at an average seven-day maximum pavement temperature of 64 c also at a minimum pavement temperature of -10c.