ASTM D6373-23

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation: D6373 − 21a D6373 − 23
Standard Specification for
Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6373; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers asphalt binders graded by performance. Grading designations are related to the LTPPBind Online
calculated maximum pavement design temperature and the minimum pavement design temperature. This specification contains
Tables 1 and 2. Table 2 incorporates Practice D6816 for determining the critical low cracking temperature using a combination of
Test Method D6648 and Test Method D6723 test procedures. If no table is specified, the default is Table 1.
NOTE 1—For more information on LTPPBind online,Online, see https://infopave.fhwa.dot.gov/Tools/LTPPBindOnline accessed May 23, 2023June 10,
2020.
NOTE 2—For asphalt cements graded by penetration at 25 °C, see Specification D946/D946M. For asphalt cements graded by viscosity at 60 °C, see
Specification D3381/D3381M.
NOTE 3—AASHTO R 29 provides non-mandatory information for determining the performance grade of an asphalt binder.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D8 Terminology Relating to Materials for Roads and Pavements
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
D95 Test Method for Water in Petroleum Products and Bituminous Materials by Distillation
D140/D140M Practice for Sampling Asphalt Materials
D946/D946M Specification for Penetration-Graded Asphalt Binder for Use in Pavement Construction
D2042 Test Method for Solubility of Asphalt Materials in Trichloroethylene or Toluene
D2872 Test Method for Effect of Heat and Air on a Moving Film of Asphalt Binder (Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test)
D3381/D3381M Specification for Viscosity-Graded Asphalt Binder for Use in Pavement Construction
D4402/D4402M Test Method for Viscosity Determination of Asphalt at Elevated Temperatures Using a Rotational Viscometer
D6521 Practice for Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV)
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.40 on Asphalt
Specifications.
Current edition approved June 15, 2021July 1, 2023. Published July 2021July 2023. Originally approved in 1999. Last previous edition approved in 2021 as
D6373 – 21.D6373 – 21a. DOI: 10.1520/D6373-21A.10.1520/D6373-23.
This specification is based on SHRP Product 1001 and AASHTO MP1.
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6373 − 23
D6648 Test Method for Determining the Flexural Creep Stiffness of Asphalt Binder Using the Bending Beam Rheometer (BBR)
D6723 Test Method for Determining the Fracture Properties of Asphalt Binder in Direct Tension (DT) (Withdrawn 2021)
D6816 Practice for Determining Low-Temperature Performance Grade (PG) of Asphalt Binders (Withdrawn 2021)
D7175 Test Method for Determining the Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binder Using a Dynamic Shear Rheometer
D7553 Test Method for Solubility of Asphalt Materials in N-Propyl Bromide
2.2 AASHTO Standards:
AASHTO R 29 Grading or Verifying the Performance Grade of an Asphalt Binder
AASHTO M 320 Standard Specification for Performance-Graded Asphalt Binder
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 Definitions for many terms common to asphalt binder are found in Terminology D8.
4. Ordering Information
4.1 When ordering under this specification, include in the purchase order the performance grade (PG) of asphalt binder required
and the table used (for example, PG 52-16, Table 1 or PG 64-34, Table 2). If no table is specified, the default is Table 1.
NOTE 4—Agencies may elect to specify PG grades not listed in the tables, either outside the table limits or between listed grades, based on specific design
or performance criteria. For these PG grades it is still appropriate to test the original and RTFO DSR at the specified PG high temperature, and BBR at
the specified PG low temperature +10 °C and PAV DSR at (PG high + PG low)/2 + 4) °C, for example, for PG 64-22, (64 + (–22))/2 + 4 = 25.
NOTE 5—The different generations of the LTPPBind program use different algorithms and weather databases for determining the PG high tempeature for
a location. The choice of which LTPPBind version to use is up to the specifier.
5. Materials and Manufacture
5.1 Asphalt binder shall be prepared by the refining of crude petroleum, with or without the addition of modifiers.
5.2 Modifiers may be any materials of suitable manufacture that are used in virgin or recycled condition, and that are capable of
being dissolved, dispersed, or reacted in asphalt binder with the objective of improving its performance.
NOTE 5—This specification is not intended to address the grading of asphalt binders containing particulate or fibrous materials larger than 250 μm in size.
5.3 The asphalt binder shall be homogeneous, free from water and deleterious materials, and shall not foam when heated to
175 °C.
5.4 The asphalt binder shall be at least 99.0 % soluble, as determined by Test Method D2042 or D7553. Any insoluble component
shall be substantially free of fibers.
5.5 The grades of asphalt binder shall conform to the requirements given in Table 1 or Table 2.
NOTE 6—Conformance with all of the parameters of this specification is not a guarantee that the asphalt concrete mix made from these products will
perform in the field. The end user of asphalt binders should assess the suitability of the binder to meet the performance requirements of the projects on
which they will be used.
6. Sampling
6.1 The material shall be sampled in accordance with Practice D140/D140M.
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on www.astm.org.
Available from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), 444 N. Capitol St., NW, Suite 249, Washington, DC 20001,
http://www.transportation.org.
D6373 − 23
TABLE 1 Performance Graded Asphalt Binder Specification
PG 46 PG 52 PG 58 PG 64 PG 70 PG 76 PG 82
Performance Grade
–34 –40 –46 –10 –16 –22 –28 –34 –40 –46 –16 –22 –28 –34 –40 –10 –16 –22 –28 –34 –40 –10 –16 –22 –28 –34 –40 –10 –16 –22 –28 –34 –10 –16 –22 –28 –34
LTPPBind algorithm max <46 <52 <58 <64 <70 <76 <82
Pavement Design
Temperature, °C
Minimum Pavement Design >–34 >–40 >–10 >–16 >–22 >–28 >–34 >–16 >–22 >–28 >–10 >–16 >–22 >–28 >–10 >–16 >–22 >–28 >–10 >–16 >–22 >–10 >–16 >–22
A
Temperature,° C >–46 >–40 >–46 >–34 >–40 >–34 >–40 >–34 >–40 >–28 >–34 >–28 >–34
Original Binder
Flash Point Temp., D92; 230
min °C
B
Viscosity, D4402/D4402M: 135
max. 3 Pa·s,
Test Temp., °C
C
Dynamic Shear, D7175: 46 52 58 64 70 76 82
G*/sinδ, min. 1.00 kPa
25 mm Plate, 1 mm Gap
Test Temp. at 10 rad/s, °C
Rolling Thin Film Oven (Test Method D2872)
Mass Change, max. percent 1.00
Dynamic Shear, D7175: 46 52 58 64 70 76 82
G*/sinδ, min. 2.20 kPa
25 mm Plate, 1 mm Gap
Test Temp. at 10 rad/s,°C
Pressure Aging Vessel Residue (Practice D6521)
PAV Conditioning Temperature, 90 (100, 110) 90 (100, 110) 100 (110) 100 (110) 100 (110) 100 (110) 100 (110)
D
°C
PAV Conditioning Temperature, 90 90 100 100 100 100 100
D
°C
Dynamic Shear, D7175: 10 7 4 25 22 19 16 13 10 7 25 22 19 16 13 31 28 25 22 19 16 34 31 28 25 22 19 37 34 31 28 25 40 37 34 31 28
F
G*·sinδ, max 6000 kPa
F
δ, min 42°
8 mm Plate, 2 mm Gap
Test Temp. at 10 rad/s, °C
E
Creep Stiffness, D6648: –24 –30 –36 0 –6 –12 –18 –24 –30 –36 –6 –12 –18 –24 –30 0 –6 –12 –18 –24 –30 0 –6 –12 –18 –24 –30 0 –6 –12 –18 –24 0 –6 –12 –18 –24
S, max 300 MPa,
m-value; min. 0.300
Test Temp at 60 s, °C
E
Direct Tension, D6723: –24 –30 –36 0 –6 –12 –18 –24 –30 –36 –6 –12 –18
...