SOFTENING POINT TEST

Introduction
Bitumen does not melt, but change gradually from sold to
liquid
Softening point is the temperature at which the bitumen
attains particular degree of softening under specified test
conditions
Ring and ball apparatus is used for the test
In principle the balls with a certain weight are placed on
a sample of well placed bitumen and then temperature is
raised slowly to liquify the bitumen in which the
temperature at which the bitumen fail to held the balls in
space are recorded and this is taken as a softening point.
Objective of this test
To measure temperature at which bituminous materials start to flow
Also in accordance with the test result one can be able to asses the
uniformity of of shipments or source of the materials
Machinery and tools used
Water bath with distilled water orde-ionized water for ringly
holder to be used
Glass and steel balls (3.5g) as standard
Ring holder for two ring and thermometer
Metal plate with smooth surface.
Talcum powder
Glycerol (99% pure)
Heating unit
Forceps

Sample preparation
Heat the sample to a temperature that does not exceed the
expected softening point by more than 110 cents. The
heating time must not exceed 2 hours
Heat the ring to approximately the same on the metal plate
(not pre-heated) and coated with a mixture of glycerol and
talcum powder(1:1)
Fill the two rings with asphalt binder and cooled at room
temperature

 After cooling cut-off the surplus asphalt with heated

spatula.
Test condition
The total time for the test should not exceed 4 hours
Test procedures
Fill the freshly distilled water holding 5+/-1 cent in glass
container containing the ring holder rings and thermometer. Fill
to a depth between 101.6 to 108mm.
Put the steel balls at the bottom of the container or in another
small assembly at 5 cent for 15mins
Place the balls onto the sample in the centering guide using
forceps
Immediately place the container with assembly unity.
Apply heat to obtain a constant temperature raise 5+/-0.5cent per
minute
The rate of temperature raised shall not be averaged over the
period of the test.
The temperature shall recorded every minute and after the first
three minutes the rate of raise must be within -/+0.5 cent for
every minute period.
Record the temperature reading for each ring and ball when the
sample touches the bottom of plate. If the softening point
temperature for the 2 parallel samples differ by more than 1cent
repeat the
Calculation and test result
The average of the two temperature is obtained incase the slightly
difference arose during testing of the sample. For our case the
temperature are given here

Discussion of the result

Test result revealed that the temperature may be used as the road
construction materials.
Test is affected by quality of liquid, weight of ball, rate of heating
etc

It gives an idea of the temperature at which the bituminous materials

attains a certain viscosity
Bitumen with higher softening point is used in warmer places
Softening point is very critical for thick films like joint and crack
fillers, to ensure they will not flow.