Determination of adhesion in bitumen-mineral systems by heat-of-immersion calorimetry

Chemical factors influencing bitumen-mineral adhesion have been examined by heat-of-immersion calorimetry. Two chosen minerals (quartz and calcite) and bitumen derived from Venezuelan and Middle East crude oils were characterised and the energy released by the bitumen-mineral interaction measured. Heat-of-immersion data are correlated with the concentration of heteroatomic species present in the bitumen and the structure of the mineral surfaces. Bitumen-quartz bonding is promoted by the presence of basic species in the bitumen and bitumen-calcite adhesion is favoured by the presence of acidic groups. A mechanism is proposed to account for the observed bond energies.