Process for preparing a mixture of bitumen, a high-boiling hydrocarbon and a rubber-like copolymer of ethylene, at least one other alpha-alkene and, if necessary, one or more polyenes

Claim 2

PROCESS FOR PREPARING A MIXTURE OF BITUMEN, SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF DISTILLATE-BITUMEN, BLOWN BITUMEN, HIGH-VACUUM BITUMEN AND MIXED BITUMEN, A HIGH-BOILING HYDROCARBON HAVING A FLASH POINT OF AT LEAST 200*C AND A RUBBER-LIKE COPOLYMER OF FROM 20 TO 75% BY WEIGHT OF ETHYLENE, 24 TO 70% BY WEIGHT OF PROPYLENE AND/OR BUTYLENE-1 AND POLYENES, THIS PROCESS BEING CHARACTERIZED IN THAT AT A TEMPERATYRE OF BETWEEN 160* AND 260*C BITUMEN IS MIXED WITH 0.1 ATURE OF BETWEEN 160* AND 260*C BITUMEN IS MIXED WITH 0.1 TO 25% BY WEIGHT- REFFERED TO THE BITUMEN - OF THE RUBBERLIKE COPOLYMER IN THE FORM OF A SOLUTION OF THIS COPOLYMER PREPARED AT A TEMPERATURE OF BETWEEN 160* AND 260*C IN 300 TO 1000% BY WEIGHT - REFERED TO THE COPOLYMER - OF THE HIGH-BOILING HYDROCARBON, WHICH SOLUTION HAS A VISCOSITY OF AT MOST 250 POISE MEASURED AT 200*C.

Claim 3

Process for preparing a mixture of bitumen, selected from the group consisting of distillate-bitumen, blown bitumen, high-vacuum bitumen and mixed bitumen, a high-boiling hydrocarbon having a flash point of At least 200*C and a rubber-like copolymer of from 20 to 75% by weight of ethylene, 24 to 79% by weight of propylene and/or butylene-1 and of from 1 to 10% by weight, if necessary, of one or more polyenes, this process being characterized in that at a temperature of between 160* and 260*C bitumen is mixed with 0.1 to 25% by weight - referred to the bitumen - of the rubber-like copolymer in the form of a solution of this copolymer prepared at a temperature of between 160* and 260*C in 300 to 1000% by weight - referred to the copolymer - of the high-boiling hydrocarbon, which solution has a viscosity of at most 250 Poise, measured at 200*C.

Claim 4

Process for preparing a mixture of bitumen, selected from the group consisting of distillate-bitumen, blown bitumen, high-vacuum bitumen and mixed bitumen, a high-boiling hydrocarbon having a flash point of At least 200*C and a rubber-like copolymer of from 20 to 75% by weight of ethylene, 24 to 79% by weight of propylene and/or butylene-1 and of from 1 to 10% by weight, if necessary, of one or more polyenes, this process being characterized in that at a temperature of between 160* and 260*C bitumen is mixed with 0.1 to 25% by weight - referred to the bitumen - of the rubber-like copolymer in the form of a solution of this copolymer prepared at a temperature of between 160* and 260*C in 300 to 1000% by weight - referred to the copolymer - of the high-boiling hydrocarbon, which solution has a viscosity of at most 250 Poise, measured at 200*C.

Claim 5

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that as solution of the rubber-like copolymer a solution is applied of the rubber-like copolymer in 400 to 800% by weight - referred to this copolymer - of a high-boiling hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture.

Claim 6

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that during the preparation of the solution of the copolymer in the high-boiling hydrocarbon, oxygen or oxygen-containing gas mixtures are contacted with the solution in a forced manner.

Claim 7

Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the oxygen-containing gases are contacted with the solution by continuous supply of oxygen or oxygen-containing gas and by increasing the area of contact between the solution and the gas supplied.

Claim 8

Process according to claim 3, characterized in that oxygen or oxygen-containing gases are led through the solution.

Claim 9

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that as copolymer a copolymer is applied containing dicyclopentadiene for polyene.

Claim 10

Process according to claim 6, characterized in that as high-boiling hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture a hydrocarbon or hydrocarbon mixture is applied having a flash point of at least 200* C, preferably of at least 250* C.

Claim 11

Process according to claim 7, characterized in that as hydrocarbon mixture an aromatic-naphthenic hydrocarbon mixture is applied.

Claim 12

Process according to claim 8, characterized in that as hydrocarbon mixture a furfurol extract from lubricating oil fractions is applied.

Claim 13

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that a bitumen a distillate-bitumen is applied, in particular a distillate-bitumen having a penetration at 25* C of between 16 and 21 mm, a softening point (ring-and-ball) of between 37 and 44* C and a breaking point according to Fraass of at most -15* C.

Claim 14

Process according to claim 1, characterized in that in the mixture of bitumen, high-boiling hydrocarbon and rubber-like polymer also sulphur and/or a polyolefin is incorporated.

Claim 15

Process according to claim 11, characterized in that sulphur is applied in a quantity of between 1 and 4 parts by weight to every part by weight of rubber-like copolymer incorporated in the mixture.

Claim 16

Process according to claim 11, characterized in that for the polyolefin polyethylene is applied in a quantity of 1 to 3 parts by weight to every 100 parts of the mixture of bitumen and copolymer.