BITUMEN

INTRODUCTION
Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means are
guided and given to the students. However the answers to the assignment are left to the
students to solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity is hoping to
slowly introduce and inculcates independent learning amongst students and prepare them
for a much harder task of open-ended laboratory activities. In these laboratory activities,
penetration test is used to measure the consistency of bitumen expressed as the distance in
tenth of the millimeter of standard needle vertically penetrates bitumen under known loading,
time and temperature. Greater value of penetration indicates softer consistency. Generally
higher penetration bitumen is preferred for use in cold climate and smaller penetration
bitumen is used in hot climate areas.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the penetration value of bitumen and examine the consistency of a sample of
bitumen.

APPARATUS

1. Bitumen sample

2. Penetration cup

3. Water bath (maintain at 25° C± 0.1° C)

4. Penetrometer

5. Needle

PROCEDURES

1. 3 specimens of bitumen was prepared by the laboratory assistant.

2. Place the specimen at the centre of the penetration machine surface.
3. The needle need to touch the surface of the bitumen before start to apply load. After
that, start the load machine.
4. Record the reading of the penetrated after 5 seconds.
5. Step 2 to 4 is repeated until 3 data for each sample is collected
SOFTENING POINT TEST
Introduction
Level 1 laboratory activity refers to condition where the problem and ways & means are
guided and given to the students. However, the answers to the assignment are left to the
students to solve using the group creativity and innovativeness. The activity is hoped to
slowly introduce and inculcate independent learning amongst students and prepare them
for a much harder task of open-ended laboratory activities.

In these laboratory activities, Ring-and-Ball Test has remained a valuable consistency test for control
in refining operations, particularly in the production of air-blown bitumen. It is also an indirect measure
of viscosity or, rather, the temperature at which a given viscosity is evident. The softening point value
has particular significance for materials, which are to be used as thick films, such as joint and crack
fillers and roofing materials.

Objectives

The objectives of the tests is:

1. To determine the softening point of bitumen using Ring-and-Ball apparatus.

Apparatus

Procedures

1. Heat the sample to a temperature between 75 and 100°C above the

approximate softening point until it is completely fluid.

2. Place the sample in the brass ring and suspend the in the water at a given
temperature.

3. Place a steel ball on the sample and heat the water such that the water
temperature increases by 5°C per minute.

4. Take the temperature reading when the softened sample touches the metal plate. The
noted temperature is the softening point of the bitumen.
DATA AND RESULT

BITUMEN

SAMPLE PENETRATION(0.1)(dmm) Average

1 4.4 4.6 13.5 7.5
2 6.5 6.1 3.6 5.4
3 5.0 3.0 4.5 4.2
Average 5.7

The specimen penetration value by considering the average of three different values = 5.7 dmm

Average penetration value for material:

Sample 1 = 7.5 dmm
Sample 2 = 5.4 dmm
Sample 3 = 4.2 dmm

Grade of material based on penetration value: 57

Actual grade of bitumen :60/70

SOFTENING POINT

Temperature (˚C)
Timer reading (mins)
Sample A Sample B
1.00 5.0 5.0
2.00 6.0 6.0
3.00 8.0 8.0
4.00 10.0 10.0
5.00 13.0 13.0
6.00 16.0 16.0
7.00 19.5 19.5
8.00 23.5 23.5
9.00 28.0 28.0
10.00 32.0 32.0
11.00 36.0 36.0
12.00 40.5 40.5
12.51 45.0 -
13.30 - 46.0
Average 45.5

Temperature indicated by thermometer when

material touches bottom = 45˚C and 46˚C
Softening point = 45.5˚C
 X

Penetration Index from the monograph = – 5

DISCUSSION

In order to find penetration index values, we must conduct both Softening Point and Bitumen
Penetration Test. The penetration values are obtained by find the softening point
temperature of bitumen and penetration at 25 Celsius of 3 bitumen samples. Then, the
values of both labs are used to find penetration index value by using nomograph.

The results for bitumen were obtained using the Cone Penetrometer. Three sample were
used and three data were taken from each sample. The data acquired from the device are
44 PEN,46 PEN,135 PEN,65 PEN,61 PEN,36 PEN,50 PEN,30 PEN,45 PEN.The average
data is 57 PEN.

There are three grades for penetration. First off, 40-50 PEN is thought to be appropriate for
heavily used pavement, such as bus stops and intersections. Next, pavement on typical
roadways is between 60 and 70 PEN. Last but not least, shape 80- 100 PEN is for cold
temperature regions with hills.Using the average data which is 57 PEN,it is not really suitable
for the road in Malaysia as Malaysia highly used gred 60 to 70 PEN.

As the temperature in Malaysia is typical. lower penetration grades in hotter climates are
used to prevent softening, whilst colder climates utilise higher penetration grades like
regions to stop excessive brittleness from happening.

There are some recommendations that can be implemented for this experiment. First, the
needle should be sharp and cleaned and dried before penetration. Second, make sure the
temperature of samples of bitumen is same before penetration

CONCLUSION

The experiment determined that bitumen's average softening point is 45.5°C. This
experiment's goals have been met. The temperature sensitivity decreases with increasing
softening point. Temperature increases cause a decrease in viscosity. The softening point
can be used to classify bitumen and is a factor in determining the consistency of shipments
or sources of supply. It also serves as an indicator of the material's propensity to flow at high
temperatures encountered in service. Before applying bitumen to road construction, testing
is done to classify it. In order to use bitumen in our construction, such as the most important
one, road construction, we must first determine whether it meets the appropriate grade
according to the temperature range we apply. By measuring the distance in tenths of a
millimetre that a standard needle vertically penetrates the bitumen specimen under specified
loading, duration, and temperature circumstances, the goal is to analyse the consistency of a
sample of bitumen.