ASTM D 5

Standard Test Method for

Penetration of bituminous material

This test method covers determination of the penetration of semi-solid and solid bituminous
material.
Apparatus described in this method is for penetration up to 500.
Penetration is the consistency of a bituminous material expressed as the distance in tenths
of a millimeter that a standard needle vertically penetrates a sample under known condition
of loading, time and temperature.

Apparatus:

Needle holder (spindle) that move vertically without fraction and capable of indication
depth of penetration to nearest 0.1 mm. The weight shall be 47.5 g.
Total weight of needle plus spindle shall be 50 g (needle weight is 2.5 g) and 100 g depends
on test conditions.
Sample container dimensions shall be as follows:
 For penetration below 200:
Diameter, mm 55
Internal depth, mm 35
 For penetration between 200 and 350:
Diameter, mm 55
Internal depth, mm 70
Water bath having capacity of at least 10 L and maintain temperature of 25 ± 0.1°C.

Preparation of test specimen:

Heat the sample with stirring.

Temperature in no case should be raised to more than 60°C for tar pitch or to more than
90°C above for the petroleum asphalt (bitumen).
Avoid incorporating bubbles into the sample.
Pour the sample to a specified depth.
Cover container as a protection against dust and allow cooling in air at temperature
between 15 and 30°C for 1 to 1.5 hours for small container and 1.5 to 2 hours for the taller.
Then place the container in transfer dish in the water bath at 25 temperatures.
Allow the small container to remain for 1 to 1.5 h and taller for 1.5 to 2 hours.
 ASTM D 5
Test conditions:

If the test conditions are not specifically mentioned, 25°C, 100g, and 5s conditions must be
used.
Other conditions for special tests are as follows:

Temperature, °C Load, g Time, s

0 200 60
4 200 60
45 50 5
46.1 50 5

Procedure:

If the penetration is expected to exceed 300, use long needle otherwise use small one.
Clean the penetration needle with toluene or other suitable solvent, dry it and insert it in
penetrometer.
Position needle until its tip just makes contact with the surface of the sample.
Quickly release the needle for specified time and note the reading or distance covered in
tenth of millimeter.
Make 3 readings not less than 10 mm from the side of the container and apart from each
other.
If the penetration is greater than 200, use at least 3 needles leaving them in the sample until
the 3 determinations have been completed.