Bitumen 60/70 vs 80/100: penetration, softening point, climate suitability, how ASTM and EN name the grades, and what to put in your RFQ.
Bitumen 60/70 vs 80/100: Which Grade Should You Choose?
Bitumen 60/70 and 80/100 are both penetration-grade paving binders. 60/70 is harder and resists rutting in heat; 80/100 is softer and better in cold. The names also differ between standards, so the grade on your tender may not be spelled the way a supplier lists it. This guide explains the difference, how the grades are named in ASTM, EN and Indian specifications, and what to put in an RFQ.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-24. Publisher: PetroBind Global.
What is the difference between bitumen 60/70 and 80/100?
Both grades are named by the penetration test: a standard needle is pressed into the sample at 25°C under a fixed load, and the depth is measured in tenths of a millimetre. The 60/70 grade allows 60 to 70 units of penetration; 80/100 allows 80 to 100. A higher number means a softer binder, so 60/70 is the harder grade. Because it is harder, 60/70 also has a higher softening point. The choice depends mainly on how hot the pavement gets, how heavy the traffic is, and what the mix design assumes.
How do the two grades compare?
The 60/70 figures are the typical values PetroBind Global lists. The softer grade behaves in the opposite direction on each line. Confirm exact 80/100 limits in the specification you are working to.
| Property | 60/70 | 80/100 |
|---|
| Penetration at 25°C (ASTM D5) | 60-70 dmm | 80-100 dmm |
| Hardness | Harder | Softer |
| Softening point (ASTM D36) | Higher (49-56°C typical) | Lower |
| Resistance to rutting in heat | Better | Lower |
| Flexibility in cold weather | Lower | Better |
Your contract specification, not a generic table, decides what is acceptable.
Why does the softening point move with the grade?
A binder that is harder at 25°C also needs more heat to soften. You can see the pattern in European paving grades. One supplier data sheet for EN 12591 grade 50/70 lists a softening point of 46 to 54°C, while a sheet for 70/100 lists 43 to 51°C. Those are European grades, not 60/70 and 80/100, but the direction is the same: the softer the grade, the lower the softening point. This is why a COA should report both penetration and softening point, not one alone.
Which grade is better for a hot climate?
In hot climates the main risk is rutting, where a soft binder deforms under traffic at high pavement temperatures. A Malaysian laboratory comparison of 60/70 and 80/100 found that 60/70 had lower penetration, a higher softening point and better stiffness as temperature rose, which points to better resistance to permanent deformation. For cold regions the logic reverses: a study of 80/100 reported better flexibility and lower thermal-cracking risk. Grade is only one input. Traffic, layer type and the asphalt mix design also decide performance, so follow the grade your designer specifies.
Why is '80/100' sometimes written differently?
Specifications do not all use the same grade names. ASTM D946 lists the penetration grades 40-50, 60-70, 85-100, 120-150 and 200-300, so it has 85-100 rather than 80-100. European specifications under EN 12591 use grades such as 50/70 and 70/100. Many traders still quote '80/100' as a common trade name. If your tender names 85-100, 70/100 or 80/100, ask the supplier to quote that exact grade and report the COA against the same standard. Do not treat neighbouring grades as interchangeable.
Where do viscosity and performance grades fit?
Penetration is not the only way to grade paving bitumen. ASTM D3381 grades asphalt by viscosity at 60°C, ASTM D6373 covers performance-graded binder, and India's IS 73 uses viscosity grades such as VG 30 and VG 40. Producer guidance from Indian refiners describes VG 30 as usable in place of 60/70, but the systems are not identical, and the penetration ranges of the VG grades overlap with but do not match the penetration grades. Substitute only if your specification and engineer allow it.
How should you specify the grade in an RFQ?
Write the grade and the standard exactly as your tender does, then add the details a supplier needs to confirm availability and logistics. This lets PetroBind Global check whether the grade, documents and packing match before quoting.
- Grade and standard exactly as written in your tender (for example 60/70, or 85-100 under ASTM D946).
- Quantity per shipment or monthly volume.
- Packing: new steel drums, jumbo bags, bitutainer or bulk.
- Destination port and Incoterm (FOB, CFR, CIF or DAP).
- Batch COA, PDS and SDS, with independent inspection before shipment.
What mistakes do buyers make when choosing?
Three mistakes recur: choosing by price or availability before reading the specification, assuming a softer grade is always safer against cracking without checking the heat and traffic the road will see, and accepting a COA whose test methods do not match the contract. Fix the grade from the specification first, then verify the batch.
Sources and further reading
Facts on this page come from ASTM D946 (grade list), ASTM D3381 and D6373 (viscosity and performance grading), the EN 12591 supplier data sheets from ORLEN and LOTOS, India's IS 73 and refiner guidance from BPCL and IOCL, and a comparative study of 60/70 and 80/100 bitumen in Malaysia published by Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS. Always read the current text of the standard your contract names.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Is 60/70 harder than 80/100?
- A: Yes. A lower penetration number means a harder binder, so 60/70 is harder than 80/100 and has a higher softening point.
- Q: Which is better for roads in Malaysia?
- A: 60/70 is the standard choice for hot-mix asphalt in Malaysia because it resists rutting at high pavement temperatures. Follow the grade named in your project specification.
- Q: Can I use 80/100 instead of 60/70?
- A: Only if your specification and mix design allow it. The grades behave differently, so do not substitute without the designer's approval.
- Q: What does 80/100 mean on a bitumen label?
- A: It is the penetration range: a standard needle sinks 80 to 100 tenths of a millimetre into the sample at 25°C. That makes it a softer binder than 60/70.
- Q: Is 80/100 the same as 85-100 in ASTM D946?
- A: No. ASTM D946 lists 85-100, not 80-100. If your tender names 85-100, ask for that grade and a COA reported against the same standard.
- Q: Is VG 30 the same as 60/70?
- A: No. VG 30 is graded by viscosity under India's IS 73, 60/70 by penetration. Indian refiners say VG 30 can be used in place of 60/70, but only where your specification allows it.
- Q: Does PetroBind Global supply both grades?
- A: Yes. PetroBind lists both 60/70 and 80/100 penetration grades. Availability, packing and destination are confirmed per RFQ.