Bitumen is “cutback” by adding controlled amounts of petroleum distillates, such as kerosene. Type and quality of Cutback depends on type and amount of solvent in the pure bitumen. The more solvent in Cutback bitumen, leads to the more viscosity in bitumen. Cutback bitumen is used when there is limited access to heating equipment, bitumen decomposition in high temperature, bitumen cooling throughout working, workers safety, fire and time consuming. This type of bitumen is used in road operations for surfacing and pavement. Medium-Curing (MC) bitumen is achieved from solving pure bitumen into kerosene.
Cutback bitumen is classified based on viscosity grade. It is divided into three categories:

Bitumen is ‘cutback’ by adding controlled amounts of petroleum distillates such as kerosene. This is done to reduce the viscosity of the bitumen temporarily so it can penetrate pavements more effectively or to allow spraying at temperatures that are too cold for successful sprayed sealing with neat bitumen.