Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments

Course # 0401234

PART I: Softening Point (Ring and Ball) Test of Asphalt Binder

(ASTM D36-95, 1995, AASHTOT53-06, 2006)

1. Purpose:
To measure the temperature at which a bitumen sample can no longer support the weight of a 3.5-g
steel ball.

2. Significance:
The softening point test is used to measure binder temperature at which the viscosity of all different
binders is 13,000 poise. A higher softening point value indicates a higher viscosity of a stiffer
consistency.

3. Apparatus:
i) Ring and ball apparatus.
ii) Thermometer: Low Range: -2 to 80⁰C, Graduation 0.2⁰C – High Range: 30 to 200⁰C, Graduation
0.5⁰C.

4. Procedure:

Preparation of sample
1. Fill the ring with the sample. Cut off the excess sample by a knife.
2. Heat the material between 75 and 100⁰C. Remove air bubbles and water by stirring it and
then, filter it through IS Sieve 30, if necessary.
3. Heat the rings and apply glycerin.
4. Now fill the material in rings and cool it for 30 minutes.
5. Use a warmed, sharp knife to remove the excess material.

For Materials of softening point below 80oC

6. Assemble the apparatus with the rings, thermometer and ball guides in position.
7. Fill the beaker with boiled distilled water at a temperature 5.0 ± 0.5 oC per minute.
8. With the help of a stirrer, stir the liquid and apply heat to the beaker at a temperature of 5.0
± 0.5⁰C per minute.
9. Apply heat until the material softens and allow the ball to pass through the ring.
10. Record the temperature at which the ball touches the bottom, which is nothing but the
softening point of that material.

For Materials of softening point above 80 ⁰C

11. The procedure is the same as described above. The only difference is that instead of water,
glycerin is used and the starting temperature of the test is 35⁰C.

5. Calculations:
- Softening point (⁰C) = the temperature at which the ball touches the bottom
6. Results:
- State the average softening point temperature for the right and left rings

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Course # 0401234

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Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments
Course # 0401234

PART II: Penetration Test of Asphalt Binder (ASTM D5)

Purpose:
To measure the penetration of an unknown asphalt cement binder at two different temperatures.

Significance:
The penetration test is used to measure binder consistency. A higher penetration value indicates a
softer consistency.

Apparatus:
- Penetration apparatus and needle (Each increment on the dial gage is equal to 1/10 mm),
sample container of binder, water bath, transfer dish, thermometer

Procedure:
1. Clean and dry the needle with a clean cloth, and insert it into the penetrometer. For room
temperature of 25°C, place a 50-gram mass on top of the needle, so that the total moving
load comes to 100 grams. For 4°C, place the 50-gram and the 100-gram mass on top of the
needle, so that the total moving load comes to 200 grams.
2. Place the sample container in a transfer dish, and transport the specimen over to the
penetrometer. The transfer dish is vital to keeping the temperature of the sample constant.
3. Place the transfer dish on the stage of the penetrometer.
4. Using the large dial, adjust the moving head of the penetrometer so that the needle is
positioned close to the surface of the binder. Using the smaller controller right above the
needle, make fine adjustments to the needle. Position the needle so that it just barely
touches the surface of the binder.
5. Move the top black handle down so that the “gap” between the two measuring rods is
closed. This is the “base” position.
6. Mark the base reading in the table below, under “start.”
7. With the metallic button in the “up” position, press the red button. The timer will start, and
the needle will penetrate the sample for 5 seconds.
8. Again, move the top black handle down so that the gap is closed. This is the “end” position.
9. Mark the dial gage reading from the “end” position in the table below. The difference
between the “end” and the “base” reading is the penetration value (or pen value).
10. Repeat Steps 1-11 in three different positions throughout the surface of the binder.
11. Each member from the team will perform this test at 25°C and only one per team at 4°C.

Calculations:
- Using the following formula to calculate the viscosity, in centipoises
𝜼𝜼(𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄𝒄)
𝟐𝟐
= 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏 ∗ �𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏�𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏.𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓−𝟐𝟐.𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐𝟐 𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥𝐥(𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷)+𝟎𝟎.𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎�𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷𝑷 �� �
Pen = penetration value (labeled as “difference” in the table above)

Results:
- State the average penetration value for each of the two test temperatures in Table1 and
Table 2.
- Use Table 3 to summarize the average penetration values from each team.

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Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments
Course # 0401234

Table 1: Penetration Values at 4°C

Temp. 4°C Group 1 4°C Group 2
Trial # 1 2 3 4 5 6

Start

End

Difference

Start

End

Difference

Start

End

Difference

Average

Table 2: Penetration Values at 25°C

Trial Measure S1 S2 S3 S4 S5 S6 Average

Start

1 End

Diff.

Start

2 End

Diff.

Start

3 End

Diff.

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Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments
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Table 3: Penetration Values from All Teams

4°C 25°C
4°C Viscosity 25°C Viscosity
Group Team Machine Penetration Penetration
(avg.), cP (avg.), cP
(avg.) (avg.)
1

1 2

5
2

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Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments
Course # 0401234

PART III: Viscosity Determination of Asphalt Binder Using Rotational

Viscometer (Brookfield Apparatus)
[AASHTO T 316-11]

1. Scope:
This test method outlines a procedure for measuring the apparent viscosity of asphalt binder at
elevated Temperature from 60 to 200˚C using the Brookfield Thermosel apparatus.

2. Terminology:
 Apparent Viscosity: the ratio of shear stress to shear rate for a Newtonian or non-Newtonian
liquid.
 Newtonian Liquid: a liquid for which the rate of shear is proportional to the shearing stress.
The constant ratio of the shearing stress to the rate of shear is the viscosity. If the ratio is not
constant, the liquid is non-Newtonian. Many liquids exhibit both Newtonian and non-
Newtonian behavior depending on the shear rate.
 Viscosity: the ratio between the applied shear stress and the rate of shear is called the
coefficient of viscosity. This coefficient is a measure of the resistance to flow of the liquid. It is
commonly called the viscosity.

3. Summary of Method

The rotational viscosity is determined by measuring the torque required to maintain a

constant rotational speed of a cylindrical spindle while submerged in a binder at a
constant temperature. This torque is directly related to the binder viscosity.
The viscosity at different shear rates at different temperatures can be used to determine
the viscosity-temperature susceptibility of asphalt binders.

4. Apparatus:
 Brookfield thermal high temperature viscosity
measurement system using a standard Brookfield
synchro-Lectric system.
 Spindle for Brookfield Thermosel viscometer.
 Thermal system.
 Thermo container and sample chamber.
 SCR controller and probe.
 Graph plotting equipment.
 An oven capable of maintaining the Temperature from
room temp. to 260oC
 A Thermometer having range from 60-200oC readable
0.2oC
 A Balance with a capacity of 2000g readable to 0.1g
Figure 1, Brookfield Apparatus

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5. Procedure:
 Read and understand the information in the instrument manufacture’s operating instructions
before proceeding.
 Turn on Thermosel power.
 Set the proportional temperature controller to the desired temperature.
 Refer to the operating instructions for calibration of the controller.
 Wait 1.5 h (or till equilibrium temperature is obtained) with the selected spindle in the chamber.
 Remove sample holder and add the volume sample specified for the spindle to be used
(approximately 10-12 ml will be required).
 Don’t overfill the sample container. The sample volume is critical to meet the system calibration
standard.
 The liquid level should intersect the spindle shaft at point approximately 3.2 mm above the
upper conical body.
 Using the extracting tool put the loaded chamber back into the thermo container.
 Lower the viscometer and align the thermo-container.
 Insert the selected spindle into the liquid in the chamber and couple it to the viscometer.
 Allow the asphalt to come to the equilibrium temperature (about 15 min).
 Start Brookfield models RV, HA, HB viscometer at 20 rpm, LV model at 12 rpm. Observe the
meter reading.
 If it between 2 and 98, proceed with the test.
 Record three readings 60 s apart at each test temperature.
 If readings are above 98 units at the lowest test temperature, decrease the spindle rpm setting
and continuing the test.
 If the reading is above 98, use the next smaller spindle and repeat the procedure.
 Multiply the viscosity factor by the Brookfield reading to obtain the viscosity in centipoises.
 Don’t change the speed (rpm setting) during the viscosity measurements as this will change the
shear rate.

6. Precision:
 Single-Operator precision: The results of two conducted tests by the same operators on the
same place should not differ by more than 3.5%.
 Multi-laboratory precision: The results of two conducted tests of the same sample of bitumen
from two laboratories shouldn’t differ by more than 14.5%.

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Materials Lab Manual (2020) Asphalt Binder Experiments
Course # 0401234

DATA SHEET

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