Wintality Petroleum is proud to offer Gilsonite, a natural resinous hydrocarbon sourced from the Uintah Basin in northeastern Utah. Known for its unique properties, Gilsonite is often referred to as Uintahite, asphaltite, or natural asphalt. This versatile material is characterized by its shiny black appearance and brittle texture, which allows it to be easily crushed into a fine powder. Gilsonite's compatibility with various solvents makes it an ideal additive for enhancing the performance of asphalt and other petroleum products.
Key Properties of Gilsonite
- Solubility: Gilsonite is soluble in both aromatic and aliphatic solvents, as well as petroleum asphalt, making it highly adaptable for various applications.
- Stability: When incorporated into asphalt cement or hot mix asphalt, Gilsonite significantly increases the stability of paving mixes, leading to improved performance under load.
- Physical Characteristics: It has a softening point ranging from 180°C to 205°C and exhibits excellent resistance to deformation and water stripping.
Applications of Gilsonite
- Drilling Fluid Loss Control
Gilsonite is widely used in the oilfield as an additive in drilling fluids. Its unique properties help combat borehole instability, provide lubricity in highly deviated holes, and serve as a bridging agent to prevent differential pressure sticking. By forming a thin wall cake and inter-matrix filter cake, Gilsonite minimizes hole collapse in water-sensitive formations and reduces stuck pipe incidents.
- Oil Sector
In oil well cementing and drilling mud formulations, Gilsonite enhances performance by stabilizing troublesome shales and sealing off highly permeable sands. Its addition helps reduce slurry weight without compromising compressive strength, making it an effective bridging and plugging agent during cementing operations.
- Asphalt and Road Paving
Gilsonite serves as a performance-enhancing agent for asphalt mixes. Modified paving mixes that incorporate Gilsonite achieve higher Performance Grade (PG) ratings while maintaining compatibility with existing asphalt blends. This results in increased stability, reduced temperature susceptibility, and enhanced resistance to water stripping compared to non-modified asphalts.
- Foundry Applications
In the foundry sector, Gilsonite is combined with coal and other materials to improve mold release and enhance the overall finish of metal castings. Its properties ensure high-quality molded parts that meet industry standards.
- Chemical Products
Gilsonite's versatility extends to various chemical applications where it combines with other materials for use in binders and coatings across metallurgical, wood product, and refractory industries.
- Inks and Paints
Gilsonite Resin is utilized as a primary carbon black wetting agent in black news inks and gravure inks. It competes favorably against petroleum-based resins, providing superior gloss and tack properties while being used in asphaltic paints and varnishes.
General Specifications of Gilsonite
Wintality Petroleum ensures that our Gilsonite products meet stringent quality standards. Below are key specifications:
Bitumen Properties
| Property | Unit | Results | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ash Content | %Wt | 2.0 - 10.0 | ASTM D-3174 |
| Moisture Content | %Wt | 1.0 - 3.0 | ASTM D-3173 |
| Volatile Matter | %Wt | 63.0 | ASTM D-3175 |
| Fixed Carbon | %Wt | 29.0 | ASTM D-3172 |
| Solubility in CS2 | %Wt | 81.0 | ASTM D-4 |
| Specific Gravity at 25°C | 1.01 - 1.06 | ASTM D-3289 | |
| Normal Heptane Insolubles | %Wt | 79.0 | ASTM D-3279 |
| Color in Mass | Black | ||
| Color in Streak or Powder | Brown | ||
| Softening Point | °C | 180 - 205 | ASTM D-36 |
| Penetration at 25°C | 0.1MM | 0.0 | ASTM D-5 |
| Carbon Content | %Wt | 74.0 | ASTM D-5291 |
| Hydrogen Content | %Wt | 9.1 | ASTM D-5291 |
| Nitrogen Content | %Wt | 1.67 | ASTM D-5291 |
| Oxygen Content | %Wt | 3.1 | ASTM D-5291 |
| Sulphur Content | %Wt | 0.5 | Leco(S) Analyzer |
Conclusion
Gilsonite is a remarkable natural resource that enhances the performance of various products across multiple industries. Its unique properties make it an invaluable additive in drilling fluids, asphalt production, foundry applications, chemical formulations, inks, and paints. For more information about our Gilsonite products or to request a quote, please visit our Contact Us page at Wintality Petroleum. We are committed to providing high-quality materials that meet your specific needs while ensuring optimal performance across all applications.