Standard Method of Test for Concrete Joint Sealers AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 187-60 (1990) (ASTM DESIGNATION: D 1191-64 (1976) 1. SCOPE 1.1 This method covers the following tests for all types of concrete joint sealers: pour point, safe heating temperature, cone penetration, flow, and bond at low temper- atures. 2. POUR POINT 2.1. Select a sample of the fresh mate~ rial, weighing approximately 600'g, in such a manner as to avoid inclusion of the surface layer. Heat 200 g of the sample, with gentle stirring, to a pouring consist- eney in a clean container placed in an oil bath or similar heating unit. The tempera- ture of the bath shall not exceed the safe heating temperature (see Section 3) by ‘more than 24 C (75 F) and in no case shall bbe more than 288 C (550 F). Add the remaining 400 g, in quantities of approxi- ‘mately 50 g ata time, to the melted mate- rial, continuing the gentle stirring. Con- tinue the heating and stirring until the entire sample is of sufficiently fluid con- sistency to be poured readily. Specimens forall tests shall be poured from this sam- ple. 2.2. Report as the pour point the mini- ‘mum temperature at which the material will pour readily and uniformly when sub- jected to the procedure describedin 2.1, ‘and record the time required to reach such consistency. It should be borne in mind that viscous flow under moderate heat or pressure is the field characteristic desired, 3. SAFE HEATING TEMPERATURE 3.1 Safe heating temperature shall be defined as the highest temperature to “which the joint-sealing material can be 468 heated and still conform to the flow requirements. Determine the safe heating temperature by further heating of the ‘material remaining after preparation of the flow, penetration, and bond test speci ‘mens, raising the temperature of the bath iff necessary, and preparing additional flow test specimens. Prepare three or ‘more such additional flow test specimens from the material, increasing the tempera- ture of the material by 11 C (20 F) inter- vals, The first specimen in this series must pass the flow test. PENETRATION 11 Make this test in accordance with the Standard Method of Test for Penetra- tion of Bituminous Materials (AASHTO ‘T 49), except that a penetration cone shall ‘be used in place of the standard penetra- tion needle. The cone shall conform to the requirements given in the Standard Method of Test for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease (ASTM D 217), except ‘that the interior construction may be modi- fied as desired. The total moving mass of the cone and attachments shall be 150.0 +0.1g 5. FLOW 5.1. Pour portion of the sample pre- pared in accordance with Section 2 into a suitable amalgamated mold 40 mm by 60 mm long by 3.2 mm deep, placed on a bright tin panel. Fill the mold with an excess of material. Allow the test speci- ‘men to cool at room temperature for at least % h then trim the specimen flush ‘with the face of the mold with a heated ‘metal knife or spatula, Remove the mold and place the panel containing the sample in an oven maintained at 60 + 1 C (140 ‘+ 2 for Sh. During the test, the panel shall be mounted so that the longitudinal axis of the specimen is at an angle of 75, 1 deg with the horizontal, and the transverse axis is horizontal. Measure the change in length in millimeters of the specimen during the 5 h test period, and report as the flow. 6. BOND 6.1 Extension Machine—The exten- sion machine used in the bond test shall be so designed that the specimen can be ‘expanded 12.7 mm (0.50 in.) at a uniform rate of approximately 3.2 mm (% in.) per hi. It shall consist essentially of one or ‘more screws rotated by an electric motor through suitable gear reductions. Self- aligning plates or grips, one fixed and the other carried by the rotating screw or screws, shall be provided for holding the test specimen in position during the test. ‘A machine suitable for testing three spet ‘mens simultaneously is shown in Figure 1 6.2. Mortar Blocks—Prepare cement ‘mortar blocks, each 25 by 50 by 75 mm (1 by 2 by 3 in) in size, using one part of high early strength Portland Cement con- forming to type IIT of the Standard Speci- fication for Portland Cement (AASHTO 'M 85) to two parts by weight of clean, uniformly graded, concrete fine aggregate ‘conforming to the Standard Specifications for Concrete Aggregates (AASHTO M 6). Sufficient water shall be used to produce a flow of 100 + 5 when tested in accord- ‘ance with the procedure for the determina tion of consistency of cement described in Sction 9 of AASHTO T 106, Test for Compressive Strength of Hydraulic Cement Mortars (using SO mm (2 in.) ccube specimens). After curing 1 day in ‘moist air and 6 days in water at 23 + 1.7 C(73.4 + 3 F) surface one 50 by 75 mm@ by 3 in) face of each block by wet srinding with a silicon carbide stone, des- ignated as C ~30 ~Q + VAD, until the aggregate is uniformly exposed. Return the blocks to waier storage until needed. Prior to use, oven-dry the blocks to constant weight at a temperature of 104-110 C (220-230 F) coo! to room tem- perature in a desiccator, and clean the sur- face of the blocks of film or powder by Vigorous brushing with astiff-bristled fiber brush. Store the prepared blocks in the desiccator until ready for the pouring ‘operation (Section 6.3). 6.3 Test Specimen—Mold the test specimen between two mortar blocks as follows: Place four spacer strips, prefer- ably of amalgamated brass and approxi- mately 6.4 mm (¥% in) thick, on an amal- ‘zamated metal plate base to enclose an ‘open space 25 mm (1 in.) wide and 50 mm (2in) long. Place the blocks on the spacer strips and space them 25 FIGURE 1 Extension Machine for Bond Test 0.13 mm (1.000 + 0.005 in.) apart by means of amalgamated metal blocks 13 mm (¥ in, thick placed at such dis- tances from the ends that an opening 25.40 * 0.13 by 50.80 + 0.13 by 50.80 0.13 mm (1.000 + 0.005 by 2.00 = 0.005 by 2.00 + 0.005 in, is formed between the blocks, with a 6.4 mm (V4 in.) ‘opening below the blocks. Rubber bands, clamps, or similar suitable means may be used to hold the blocks in position. Place amalgamated brass side walls 25 mm (1 in) high on top of the blocks. Pour mate- rial prepared in accordance with Section 2 into the space between the blocks in suffi- cient quantity to bring i to atleast flush with the top of the spacer strips. After the specimen has cooled for at least 2h, remove the excess material protruding, beyond the top and the bottom of the blocks by cutting with a heated metal knife or spatula. If shrinkage of the mate- Fial upon cooling reduces its level below the top of the mortar blocks, or if other casting defects are apparent, the specimen shall be discarded, 6.4 Extension at Lovi Temperatures — Place three test specimens, prepared as described above, in an atmosphere main- tained at the specified temperature within © LC (+ 2F) for not less than 4 h; then remove the amalgamated metal spacer blocks and mount the specimens immedi ately inthe self-aligning clamps of the extension machine. Extend the specimens 1.3 mm (0.50 in, at a uniform rate of, approximately 3.2 mm (¥4 in.) per hour. During this period, maintain the atmo- sphere surrounding the test specimens at the specified temperature within = 1 C (£28, 6.5 Recompression—After extension as described in Section 6.4, remove the specimens from the extension machine and return them to storage at room tem: perature for 2h. Replace the 25 mm (1470 METHODS OF SAMPLING ANG Eee ae in.) metal spacer blocks between the mor- tar blocks and rest each specimen on one ‘mortar block so that the weight of the-top block recompresses the sealing material. If at the end of 2h at room temperature the specimen has not recompressed to its orig inal thickness, place it in a testing ‘machine and recompress at the approxi- mate rate of 3 mm (0.1 in.) per min. 6.6 Number of Cycles—Five cycles of ‘extension followed by recompression shall constitute one complete test for bond.