The steric hardening and structuring of paraffinic hydrocarbons in bitumen

The formation of ordered structures of macro- and microcrystalline waxes during cooling from the melt of bitumen was observed using temperature-modulated differential scanning calorimetry. This process develops in time. It is found that steric hardening of bitumen (gradual hardening at room temperature) is related to the processes of formation of ordered structures of bitumen waxes.