Packaging for bitumen

Abstract

A consumable bitumen packaging compound including at least one packaging material/s, such as polymers, plastics and extenders and the like, used in combination with the bituminous material and a metal, either pure in powder form or in the form of salt or oxide, that is physically and/or chemically combined with the polymer material, so that the density of the packaging material is adjusted to prevent the material from floating to the surface of the molten material after melting. The components of the packaging are preferably selected such that they are compatible with the bitumen. After transport and storage, the packaging material can therefore be directly incorporated into the bitumen product for final use, such that the formation of a polymer skin accumulating at the surface of the molten material is largely avoided.

1 . A consumable container for use in transport and/or melt-processing operations, or a film suitable for use in packaging, said container or film composed of a composition comprising: 
 i) 60.1% to 99.9% by weight of a moldable material composed of a plastic or polymer material wherein 0.1% to 39.9% of said 60.1% to 99.9% is bituminous material; and    ii) 0.1% to 39.9% by weight of a dense metallic material.    
   
   
       2 . A container or film according to  claim 1 , wherein the plastic or polymer material is selected from polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, styrene-butadiene-styrene, styrene-butadiene, styrene-indene-styrene, copolymers of acrylates and methacrylates, ethylene-vinyl-acetate, atactic polypropylene, mineral or natural or synthetic fibers, and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       3 . A container or film according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the plastic or polymer material is an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer.  
   
   
       4 . A container or film according to  claim 1 ,  2  or  3 , wherein the bituminous material is selected from bitumen, oxidized bitumen, semi-blown bitumen, natural occurring bitumen, refinery heavy residues, heavy fuel-oil, extracts, petroleum-tar, coal-tar, aromatic extracts, synthetic resins, natural resins and mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       5 . A container or film according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the metallic material is a source of metal ions derived from at least one metal or the salts and oxides thereof and/or a metal complex.  
   
   
       6 . A container or film according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the metallic material is in a powder, pellet or granular form.  
   
   
       7 . A container or film according to  claim 5  or  6 , wherein the metallic material is or comprises iron, calcium, an iron oxide, calcium carbonate, a silicate, zinc, zinc sulfate, or mixtures thereof.  
   
   
       8 . A composition comprising: 
 i) 60.1% to 99.9% by weight of a moldable material composed of a plastic or polymer material wherein 0.1% to 39.9% of said 60.1% to 99.9% is bituminous material; and    ii) 0.1% to 39.9% by weight of a dense metallic material selected from iron oxide, zinc sulfate, crushed stone, and glass fibers, or a dense metallic material comprising zinc.    
   
   
       9 . A composition comprising: 
 i) about 90% by weight of a moldable material composed of about 83% of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer and about 17% of bituminous material; and    ii) about 10% by weight of iron oxide.    
   
   
       10 . A consumable container for use in transport and/or melt-processing operations according to any one of claims  1 - 7 .  
   
   
       11 . A consumable container according to  claim 10 , further comprising a bitumen product contained in said container, wherein the specific gravity of the composition is equal to or greater than the specific gravity of the bitumen product contained therein at the melting temperature of the bitumen product.  
   
   
       12 . A consumable container according to claims  10  or  11 , wherein the container is formed by blow-molding, casting, injection molding, the use of a forming apparatus, or combinations thereof.  
   
   
       13 . A consumable container according to any one of claims  10 - 12 , in the form of a sealable bag, barrel, box, bowl, or cylinder of any suitable shape or size.  
   
   
       14 . A film suitable for use in packaging according to any one of claims  1 - 7 .  
   
   
       15 . A composition according to  claim 8  wherein said dense metallic material is iron oxide.  
   
   
       16 . A composition according to  claim 8  or  15  wherein said moldable material composed of a plastic or polymer material is an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer.  
   
   
       17 . A composition comprising: 
 i) 60.1% to 99.9% by weight of a moldable material composed of an ethylene-vinyl-acetate copolymer wherein 0.1% to 39.9% of said 60.1% to 99.9% is bituminous material; and    ii) 0.1% to 39.9% by weight of a dense metallic material.