This specification covers asphalt binders graded by performance. Grading designations are related to the average seven-day maximum pavement design temperature, and minimum pavement design temperature. Asphalt binder shall be prepared by the refining of crude petroleum by suitable methods, with or without the addition of modifiers, which may be any organic material of suitable manufacture that is used in virgin or recycled condition, and that is dissolved, dispersed or reacted in asphalt cement to enhance its performance. This specification incorporates an aid for determining the critical low cracking temperature using a combination of test procedures.

1.1 This specification covers asphalt binders graded by performance. Grading designations are related to the average seven-day maximum pavement design temperature, and minimum pavement design temperature. This specification contains Table 1 and Table 2. Table 2 incorporates Practice D 6816 for determining the critical low cracking temperature using a combination of Test Method D 6648 and Test Method D 6723 test procedures. If no table is specified, the default is Table 1.

Note 1—For asphalt cements graded by penetration at 25°C, see Specification D 946. For asphalt cements graded by viscosity at 60°C see Specification D 3381.

Note 2—AASHTO R 29 provides non-mandatory information for determining the performance grade of an asphalt binder.