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2026 Vol.16, Issue 1
A technical review of asphalt binder production and stiffness under changing crude oil supply conditions

원유 수급 변화에 따른 아스팔트 바인더의 생산과 강성에 관한 기술적 고찰

Sung Hyeon Park1
,
Tae Soon Park2*
,
Ki Hag Kim3
박 성현1
,
박 태순2*
,
김 기학3
1Associate, SINHWA PS E&C
2Professor Emeritus, Seoul National University of Science & Technology, Department of Civil Engineering
3CEO, SI Corporation
1(주)신화피에스이앤씨 사원
2서울과학기술대학교 건설시스템공학과 명예교수
3(주)에스아이 대표이사
*Corresponding Author
30 June 2026. pp. 1-10
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Abstract

Recently, geopolitical risks and the Iranian crisis have forced South Korean refineries to diversify their crude oil sources. Refineries claim that producing the stiffer AP-5 grade (Penetration 60-80) is no longer feasible due to these crude shifts, leaving them to supply only the softer AP-3 grade (Penetration 80-100). This technical note critically evaluates the relative impacts of crude oil chemical composition versus secondary refining process controls on the final stiffness and Performance Grade (PG) of asphalt binders from both pavement and refining engineering perspectives. The analysis suggests that the influx of light crude, such as U.S. shale oil, may be associated with a reduction in the asphaltene concentration in Vacuum Residue (VR), and that the current restriction on AP-5 production may be more closely associated with economic constraints and refinery profit-margin considerations than with absolute technical limitations. To resolve this supply deficit and preserve pavement durability, this paper proposes three engineering solutions executable at the refinery level: (1) Re-blending of Solvent Deasphalting (SDA) pitch, (2) Optimization of the mild air-blowing process, and (3) In-line additive masterbatch blending prior to shipping.

Keywords
Asphalt binder stiffness
Penetration
Vacuum residue
Iranian crisis
Solvent deasphalting (SDA)
Mild air-blowing
References
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Information
  • Publisher :KOREAN ASPHALT INSTITUTE
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국아스팔트학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of the Korean Asphalt Institute
  • Journal Title(Ko) :한국아스팔트학회지
  • Volume : 16
  • No :1
  • Pages :1-10
  • Received Date : 2026-05-29
  • Revised Date : 2026-06-10
  • Accepted Date : 2026-06-15
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.22702/jkai.2026.16.1.1
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