Cut Back Bitumen a.k.a. MC Asphalt is simple same Bitumen refined from Vacuum Bottom, mixed with specific amounts of petroleum distillates such as kerosene or Gasoline. This process reduces the viscosity of the bitumen temporarily, so the penetration for pavements will be more effective and allows spraying at temperatures that are too cold for successful sprayed sealing with neat bitumen. The materials used to cutback bitumen will evaporate after application to leave the remaining material similar in hardness to the original bitumen.
So it's great! Why we do not trade it? Why it's forbidden in many countries to use?
The answer is simple: environment! We have environment concerns using and trading cutback bitumen. As said above, Cutback asphalts contain volatile chemicals that evaporate into the atmosphere. Emulsified asphalts evaporate water into the atmosphere. Also the cutback bitumen has loss of energy sources. The petroleum solvents used require higher amounts of energy to manufacture and are expensive compared to the water and emulsifying agents used in emulsified asphalts.
In Iran, EPE (police department who fights trafficking and smuggling of products and currencies) stops cutback bitumen to be exported because of uncontrolled amounts of fuel mixed in bitumen.
We do not deal and trade Cut Back Bitumen, and I suggest you not to use this bitumen for environmental reasons too.
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