Bitumen History

Bitumen is a road material that has always been exploited. His qualities have been recognized from Noah’s Ark through the gardens of Babylon. The Egyptians also used it to cover the sacred ways of temples. Due to its adhesiveness, impermeability and malleability, it has long been a recognized raw material in the Middle East economy. In addition, doctors have found antiseptic properties. Dentists, for example, treated cavities with a mixture of bitumen and clay. It was at the end of the 18th century that bitumen arrived in France for printing inks or for waterproofing fortifications. Today, over 85% of bitumen production in Europe is used for road and urban road construction.

Other anecdotes highlight the properties of bitumen. For example, the first photograph in history was taken by Judea that Niepce with bitumen: he placed lithographic stones covered with bitumen at the bottom of a darkroom and then obtained a still image. In addition, bitumen is also an excellent thermal and electrical insulator: 450,000 km of submarine cables, containing a large part of the world’s communications, are protected from corrosion and abrasion by bitumen. The latter is also known for its phonic properties. It is cast into the board and used to reduce noise propagation. As for its usefulness in the automotive industry, it can damp vibrations, particularly via so-called bituminous damping elements. In conclusion, bitumen has improved living comfort and energy savings. As a result, our mobility is constantly improving, whether on foot, on two or four wheels, whether the machine is powered or not.