Superpave Performance Grade Asphalt Binder
Specification Summary Table

The table below is the standard summary table presented in the AASHTO MP 1 specification for performance graded asphalt binder.  The following items may help to decipher this table:

• The top several rows (all the rows above the "original binder" row) are used to designate the desired PG grade.  For instance, if the average 7-day maximum pavement design temperature is greater than 52^oC but less than 58^oC then you should use the "< 58" column.  The temperatures directly under the "< 58" cell are selected based on the minimum pavement design temperature in ^oC.
• No matter what the desired PG binder specification, the same tests are run.  The PG specification (e.g., PG 58-22) just determines the temperature at which the tests are run.
• Tests are run on the original binder (no simulated aging), RTFO residue (simulated short-term aging) and PAV residue (simulated long-term aging) in order to fully characterize the asphalt binder throughout its life.  Notice that often the same test is run on different simulated binder ages.  For instance, the dynamic shear test is run on all three simulated binder ages.
• The tests run on the binder are listed in the left-hand column.  They are not necessarily listed by their common names but the applicable AASHTO test procedure is listed.  For instance, "Flash Point Temp. T 48, Minimum (^oC)" means that the flash point is measured according to AASHTO T 48 and that the value in the adjacent column represents the minimum allowable in degrees Centigrade.

Table 1: Performance Graded Asphalt Binder Specifications (from AASHTO, 2001)