Estimation of average structural parameters of bitumens by C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The determination of the average molecular parameters of bitumens represents an important step in describing the skeletons of asphalt cements. A new investigation method is presented, based only on the analysis of C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) data and molecular weights. This method is proved to be an efficient procedure to give independent parameters and to try to define a 'fingerprint' of the bitumens. In particular, the aromatic part of these complex mixtures is described by comparison with an exhaustive list of possible models. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.