Which designation corresponds to the original unaged binder grade?

• A. AR
• B. AC
• C. PG
• D. Viscosity

Answer: (B)

The starting, unaged binder is Asphalt Cement, abbreviated AC. This designation identifies the basic, original asphalt binder before any aging or performance grading is applied. AC represents the baseline material used to make asphalt mixes.

Asphalt Rubber describes a modified binder with crumb rubber, not the original unaged material. A Performance Grade (PG) specifies how the binder should perform at high and low temperatures after aging, so it’s a later, aged/graded designation rather than the original. Viscosity is simply a measure of flow resistance and isn’t a designation for the unaged binder type.