Standard Method of Test for Is Float Test for Bituminous Materi AASHTO DESIGNATION: T 50-99 AASLITO T 50-99 is identical to ASTM 1) 139-95 except as follows: All references to the ASTM standards cemtained in AS D 139-95, listed in the Lullowing table, shall he replaced with the corresponding AASHTO standard Referenced Standards AASHTO 40) 139) bao F201 Revise the second sentence of Section 6.3 to include the following: cmt Zeidue may also be ponred fro dhe sil directly into a ti or small container which shall be matinee at hep Toe atue for pooring: The temperature of te residue shall Ue verified during pouring by inserting the 30 AWG gage thermocouple probe into the residue while it is poured out of the container into the vollar: 322150 METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING 323, ) Designation: D 139 - 95 Standard Test Method for Float Test for Bituminous Materials" ‘This standard is isuod under the fixed designation D 139: the number immediatly following the designation indicates the your of ‘riginal adoption or, inthe case of revision, te ser of lst revision. A number in parentheses incase te yar of last reapproval. A fupersript epsilon ()indiates an editorial charge since the lst revision sr seappeovul, 1, Scope J This test method covers the float test for bituminous materials. 1.2 This standard does not purport ta address all of the saley concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the ripowsibilty af the user of this standard to establish anpro- mate safety and health practices and determine the anplica- tility of regulatory limitations prior to use. For a specific precaution statement, see 7.1. 1.3 The values stated in ST units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for informa- imonly. 4, Referenced Documents 2 ASTM Standards C610 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias State- ments for Test Methods for Construction Materials? D140 Practice for Sampling Bituminous Materials? D244 Test Methods for Emulsified Asphalts* 1D2170 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Asphalts (Bitumen) E | Specification for ASTM ‘Thermometers 4. Summary of ‘Test Method 3.1.4 plug of bitumen is cast in a tapered collar. The ‘sembled float and collar is then floated in the testing bath atthe specified temperature. The time, in seconds, between placing the apparatus on the water and the water breaking through the material shall be taken as a measure of the comisteney of the material under examination, 4, Significance and Use 4.1 The float test characterizes the flow behavior or ‘consistency of certain bituminous materials. 42 This test method is useful in determining the consist- ‘ney of bitumen as one element in establishing the unifor- nity of certain shipments or sources of supply. $, Apparatus 5.1 Float—The float (Fig. 1) shall be made of aluminum of aluminym alloy and shall be in accordance with the following requirements: ‘Thistet method is under the jursetion of ASTM Committe D-4 on Road 14 Paving Materials and isthe direct esponstiliy of Subcommice DOM ox, Reslogeal Tet. ‘Curent elton approved Feb. 15, 1995. Publishod Apnl. 1995. Originally used as 139 =22°T. Last previo edition D139 90"" * nual Bro of AST Standards, Vol 04.02. “Annual Brok of ASTAE Standards, Vol 04.08 donut Book of ASTM Standards, Vo! 1403, — Normal Max Mass or oa, ¢ 3790 seu “Toul height of float, mm 350 360 ‘Heighof tim above lower 20 m5 ‘eof shuvlder, me 1a M4 1s Dianeter of opening, man io 4 ne 5.2 Collar—The eollar (Fig. 1) shall be made of brass and shall be in accordance with the following requirements: Min Noninal Mi Mass of calla, ¢ 9.60 9.80 1.00 (Overall height or cola, am 223, mt Inside dhametr at bottom, ram In ia9e Inside dhimeter at top, ma 985 35 The top of the collar shall screw up tightly against the ower side of the shoulder. 5.3 Calibration of Assembly—The assembled Moat and collar, with the collar filled flush with the bottom and ‘weighted to a total mass of 53.2 g, shall float upon water with the rim 8,5 + 1.5 mm above the surface of the water, This adjustment of the total mass of the assembly is for the purpose only of calibrating the depth of immersion in the testing bath, 5.4 Thermometer—An ASTM Low Softening Point Ther: mometer, graduated in cither Celsius or Fahrenheit degrees as specified, having a range from —2 to +80°C or +30 to +180°F and conforming to the requirements for Thermom- eter 15°C of 15°T, respectively, as prescribed in Specification El 5.4.1 A thermometer consisting of K type 30. AWG gage thermocouple and a meter capable of reading 25°C (77°F) tc 260°C (500°F). The thermocouple shall be 61 to 76 om (24 tc 30 in.) in length. This thermometer shall conform 0 th temperature/voltage tables of the National Institute of Stan dards and Technology and to the IEC 584 standards for K- J-, and ‘T-type thermocouples." 5.5 Testing Bath—A circular bath of at least [85 mm in internal diameter and containing water at least 185 mm in depth; or a rectangular bath with minimum internal dimen sions of 150 mm width and 300 mm length, and containin water at least 110. mm in depth. The height of the surface 0 the container above the water shall be ai least 40 mm. Th bath shall be heated by electric, gas, of other suitable means A stand or other suitable support shall be available to holc the thermometer in the proper position in the bath during the test, 5.6 Water Bath at 5°C—A water bath of suitable dimen sions maintained at 3.0 1.0°C, which may be accomplishe by means of melting ice, Tega Mave 819 meteris an appropriate meter for this purpose324 METHODS Ol SAMPLING AND TESTING 13 ib D139 Se ro s20220mm Tapered Pfemote Weight é oo en 2005 Float, (Aluminiin) 470 \ fitenderd Theeed moray Tapered Weight Ty fo make 1402010 Weight of Foot, 3790# 0209, Voight of Collor, 980 # 620g, FIG. 1 Float Test Apparatus 5.7 Brass Pouring Plate—A flat, smooth brass plate approximately 75 by 50 mm that has been treated to prevent. the bituminous material from adhering to it. A suitable ‘weatment is to coat the plate just before use with a thin layer of @ mixture of elycerin and dextrin, tale, or kaolin (china clay). Other plates or coatings, or both, may be used, providing similar resulis are achieved. 6. Procedure 6.1 Place the brass collar with the smaller end on the coated plate. 6.2 Melt the sample completely at the lowest possible ‘cmperature that will bring it to a sufficiently fluid condition for casy pouring, excepting creosote-oil residues, which shall be mixed und poured at a temperature of 100 to 125°C. Stir the sample thoroughly until it is homogeneous and free from air bubbles. Then pour it into the collar in any convenient manner until slightly more than level with the top, 6.3 Emulsified Asphalts—Test the distillation residue in accordance with Scction 96.1, Float Test, Test. Methods D244, The pouring temperature for high float emulsion residues can be critical, If'a high float residue sample fails or appears to be poured at a cooler than specified temperature, the specified pouring temperature sball be confirmed it} referee sample by use of a 30-gage thermocouple probe) instrument. Position the thermocouple probe: into the i» enter of the collar from above. Record the maxima femperature measured while the residue is being povre it the collar. Fill the collar until slightly more than level the top, and quickly remove the thermocouple, 6.3.1 Samples for which the minimum. tempeue seading of 218°C (425°F) was not attained shall not be et for float. 6.4 Asphalt and Asphalt Products—Cool asphalt ands phalt products to room temperature for 15 to 60 min, te place them for S min in the water bath at 5°C, after pi ‘wim the surplus material flush with the top ofthe clit, means of a spatula or stec! knife that has been slightly hats Then place the collar and plate in the water bath at Cal leave them in this bath for not less than {5 nor more then) min, 6.5 Tar Products—Immediately immerse tar produc i 3 min in the water bath at 5°C, after which trim the suple material flush with the top of the collar by means of spt or stool kniffe that has been slightly heated. Then plave te collar and plate in the water bath at 5°C and leave then a this bath for not less than 15 nor more than 30 min, 6.6 Heat the water in the testing bath to the temperey 4 which the test is to be made, This temperature shall ni vary throughout the test more than 0.5°C from the temper lure specified, using any suitable means of heating the bat, ‘without stirring, Determine the temperature by immetsig te thermometer with the bottom of the bulb at a depth of’ 2 mm below the water surface, 6.7 After the material to be tested has been kept in th water hath at 5°C for not less than 15 nor more than 30 ain, Femove the collar with its contents from the plate and sew into the aluminum float, Completely immerse the assentiy for 1 min in the water bath at 5°C. Then remove the wie from the inside of the float and immediately float te assembly on the testing bath. Lateral drift of the assem) shall be permitted, but no spinning motion shall be incr tionally imparted thereto. As the plug of material becons warm and fluid, it is forced upward and out of the eo until the water gains entrance into the saucer and causesitip sink, 6.8 Determine the time, in seconds, between placing tt apparatus on the water and the water breaking through ih material by means of a stop watch, and take as.a measure al the consistency of the material under examination. 7. Precautions 7.1 Special precautions should be taken to ensure tha ty collar fits tightly into the float and to see that there is a seepage of water between the collar and float during the 1,1H METHODS OF SAMPLING AND TESTING 325 qh D139 TABLE 1 Precision ‘Th values given in Column @ ae th coetilens of variation at have boon found tobe appropiate for de materials and conitons of test desorbed in Gotsin Teves gven n Column 9 are the tits that should not be excnoced bythe ference belweun te resus of two pcpery conducted tests expressed as perce ‘ena zi ‘Coefilent of Variation, ‘Rasepiable Range of Two Matec ard Type Indo rMean* esis, of Mean” ® ie prec (lero 32 and 50°C 23 8s. ’ “shat camer and asphek exon votives (120 penetration and above) at 60°C. 7 438 try poco: “Gals a 92 and 50°C 42 13 Isat eamenisand asp emudsion reisues (120 penetration and above) at 60°C 107 m2 “Thenunbers represen respectively the) and (A2e) its es deserved in Practica © CTO. _aer sugested ste, soe Soction 11 of Tast Method D 2170, 4) Precision and Bias 9. Keywords UU Criteria for judging the acceptability of float test 9.1. asphalt; bitumen; float; high float; pouring tempera- teuts obtained by this test method are given in Table |. ture; tar ‘Th American Society er Testing and Material tales no postion respecting the val of uny patent igs aesartec in connection with ny tm mentioned In his standard, Usors of ts standard ar expressly advised that dolerminatun of the valley of any soch font nah, and the risk of Iningemen! of such rts, ae entiely thelr own responsibilty. ‘This stones eubjactt revision at anytime by to response technical committe and must be reviewed every five yoars and ‘ina reieed, ether reapproved or withdrawn, Your commants ar ited ether fr revision of tis sandra ar for aceon standards Ind shoutd be addressed to ASTM Headquartos. Yeur commans will ecsive careful considaytion at» meatig ofthe responsbie ‘Bonnisal commiee, whic you cy fend. you fee that YOUr COMrents favo nol /ocoWweX a fair nearing You shouts meke your news Krown tothe ASTM Committe on Starlazas, 1916 Race St, Phadoia, PA T9T03.