Lab.

8: To Determine Flash And Fire Point Of Bitumen

ASTM Designation: ASTM D92 - 18

Highway Lab. (CT-264L)

Engr. Syed Shah Hasnain,
M.S. Transportation Engineering
(In Progress),
UET Peshawar.

Email: syedshahhasnain@gmail.com
Lecture’s Contents
• Bitumen and Coal Tar • Procedure flash point and fire
point
• Sources of Bitumen • Precautions
• Open cup and Closed
• Theory • Observations
cup flash point
• Flash Point and Fire • Calculation & Report
• Safety Hazards of
Point
• Recommendations
Bitumen
• Scope & Significance
• Viscosity Grading of
• Protection Against
• Apparatus Bitumen
Exposure to Emissions
• Preparation of • Questions to Know from Bitumen
Apparatus
• Factors affecting the • References

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Bitumen and Coal Tar
• Bitumen and coal tar, or tar as it is commonly known, are two very different materials.

• Firstly, they are produced in different ways: bitumen is distilled from crude oil, using a number of different processes
to produce bitumen products with special characteristics.

• Coal tar is made by processing coal at very high temperatures (pyrolysis).

• Coal tar was commonly used for road building and waterproofing up to the middle of the 20th century, but was
gradually phased out and replaced by bitumen during the 1950s.

• Second of all, bitumen and tar have very different characteristics.

• Although they are similar in appearance and in use profile, the chemical composition of coal tar is very different from
bitumen, and this has a huge effect on the nature of hazard that coal tar presents to the user: coal tar is classified as
carcinogenic, whereas bitumen is not.

• Bitumen is used in road construction because it is easy to produce, reusable, non-toxic, and a strong binder.

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Sources of Bitumen
Bitumen is generally obtained from the following three sources:

• Naturally occurring (in West Indies).

• Extracted from Limestone and Sandstone (procedure adopted in

USA).

• From Oil Refineries (this is the major source of bitumen in Pakistan).

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Theory
• At high temperatures, bituminous materials emit hydrocarbon vapours which are susceptible to
catch fire.
• Therefore the heating temperature of bituminous material should be restricted to avoid hazardous
conditions.
• Flash point and fire point tests are used to determine the temperature to which bituminous
material can safely be heated.
• The flash point is used measure the tendency of the materials to catch flames, class the material
according to a safety requirement and to obtain an idea about presence of volatile and flammable
substances, while the fire point is used to measure combustibility of the material.
• Catching fire is very dangerous during mixing of bitumen especially during its application. So, it is
necessary to recognize the safe temperature values of bitumen grades for mixing as well as for
applying. The limited values of temperature can be determined by conducting Flash point and Fire
point test on bitumen.
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Explosion of Bitumen tanks Due to Excessive Temperature

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Flash Point
• Flash point of bitumen is the lowest temperature at which, its vapour will
temporarily catch fire in the form of a flash during heating, when a small flame is
brought into contact with the vapour under specified conditions of test.

• So, at this point fire will not last longer, just a flash will appear for a fraction of
seconds.

• The existence of highly volatile and inflammable materials in a particular grade of

bitumen can be indicated by the flash point.

• A flammable material is the one which forms flames but does not sustain fire,
while a combustible material is the one, which sustains fire/burning.

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Fire Point
• In practical view the fire point is the lowest temperature at which the application

of test flame causes the material to ignite and burn at least for 5 seconds after

removal of source of ignition under specified conditions of test.

• The presence of combustible materials in a bituminous material can be indicated

by the Fire point.

• The fire point of a sample is slightly higher than its flash point.

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Scope & Significance
• Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to differentiate between
flammable and combustible materials.
• Flash point can indicate the possible presence of highly volatile and flammable
materials in a relatively non-volatile or non-flammable material.
• Fire point measures the characteristics of the sample to support combustion.
• During construction of bituminous pavements, the engineer may restrict the
mixing or application temperatures well within the limits. The test therefore gives
indication of critical temperature at and above which suitable precautions should
be taken to eliminate fire hazards during use of asphalts. In other words, heating
should be limited to a temperature well below the flash point.

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 Apparatus
• Cleveland Open Cup Apparatus - This apparatus consists of the test cup,
heating plate, test flame applicator, heater, and thermometer support. The cup
may be equipped with a handle.
• Heating Plate - A brass, cast iron, wrought iron, or steel plate with a center hole
surrounded by an area of plane depression, and a sheet of hard asbestos board
which covers the metal plate except over the area of plane depression in which
the test cup is supported.
• Heater - Heat may be supplied form any convenient source. An electric heater
controlled by a variable voltage transformer is preferred. The source of heat
shall be centered under the opening of the heating plate.
• Thermometer Support - Any convenient device may be used which will hold
the thermometer in the specified position during a test and which will permit
easy removal of the thermometer form the test cup upon completion of a test.
• Thermometer of specified range generally 0oC to 400oC.
• Test Flame Applicator - The device for applying the test flame may be of any
suitable design.

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Preparation of Apparatus
• Support the apparatus on a level table.

• Wash the test cup with an appropriate solvent to remove any oil or traces of gum
or residue remaining from a previous test. If any deposits of carbon are present,
they should be removed with steel wool.

• Support the thermometer in a vertical position with the bottom of the bulb 6.4
mm from the bottom of the cup and located at a point halfway between the
centre and side of the cup.

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Procedure
A. Flash Point
• Clean up and dry thoroughly all parts of the Cleveland open cup.
• All accessories including thermometer of the specified range are suitably fixed.
• The bitumen sample is then heated between 75 and 100°C. Stir it thoroughly to remove
air bubbles and water.
• Fill the cup with the material to be tested up to the filling mark.
• Apply heat initially so that the rate of temperature rise of the sample is 14 to 17°C per
minute. When the sample temperature is approximately 56°C below the anticipated flash
point, decrease the heat so that the rate of temperature rise for 28°C before the flash
point is 5 to 6°C per minute.

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Procedure (contd …)
• Starting at least 28 °C below the flash point, apply the test flame when the temperature read on the

thermometer reaches each successive 2°C mark. Pass the test flame across the center of the cup, at

right angles to the diameter. The time consumed in passing the test flame across the cup shall be about

one second (1 s.). During the last 17 °C rise in temperature prior to the flash point, care must be taken

to avoid disturbing the vapors in the test cup by careless movements or bathing near the cup.

• Flash point is taken as that temperature when a flash first appears at any point on the surface of the

material in the cup. Take care that the bluish halo that sometimes surrounds the test flame is not

confused with the true flash. Discontinue the stirring during the application of the test flame.

• Flash point should be taken as the temperature read on the thermometer at the time the flash occurs.

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Application of Flame to the Apparatus

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Flash and Fire Points

Flash Point Fire Point

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Procedure (contd …)
B. FIRE POINT
• After flash point, heating should be continued at such a rate that the increase in
temperature recorded by the thermometer is neither less than 5°C nor more than 6°C
per minute.
• To determine the fire point, continue heating so that the sample temperature increases
at a rate of 5 to 6 °C. Continue the application of the test flame at 2°C intervals until the
sample ignites and continues to burn for at least 5 second. Record the temperature at
the point as the fire point of the oil.
• The application of the test flame is continued at 2°C (5 F) intervals until the sample
ignites and continues to burn for at least 5 s.
• Fire point should be taken as the temperature read on the thermometer at the time the
fire starts.

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Flame Gas Device

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Cleveland Open Cup Apparatus

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Precautions
• The test flame should neither be larger than stipulated nor be applied more frequently
than specified as the surface layer may get super heated.

• The bluish halo that sometimes surrounds the test flame should not be confused with
the true flash.

• Do not breathe close to the apparatus as the fumes are injurious to health.

• Turn the fans off so that the fumes can be accumulated over the cup.

• Tip of the thermometer should not touch the bottom or sides of the cup.

• The operator must exercise and take appropriate safety precautions during the initial
application of the test flame, since samples containing low flash material may give an
abnormally strong flash when the test flame is first applied.
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 Observations
• Adjust the table according to your reading. If the flash point starts at
20th minute and fire point at 28th minute, then this table is okay
otherwise update it accordingly.

• Plot a graph of temperature vs. time from the observed readings.

• Flash Point = _______°C

• Fire Point = _______°C

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Calculations and Report
• Observe and record the barometric pressure at the time of the test. When the pressure differs
from 760 mm Hg, correct the flash or fire point, or both, by means of the following equations:

• Corrected flash or fire point, or both =

Corrected Flash/Fire Point = C + 0.033 (760 — P)

Where:

• C = observed flash point, or fire point, or both, to the nearest 2 °C

• P = ambient barometric pressure, mm Hg

• Record the corrected flash point or fire point, or both, to the nearest 1°C.

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Recommendations
• For all types of Bitumen grade, the minimum values of flash point and

fire point should be 175° C and 175 + 5° C respectively.

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Viscosity Grading of Bitumen
• In the US, six Asphalt Cement (AC) viscosity grades were specified, they are AC -

2.5 (softest), AC – 5. AC – 10, AC – 20, AC – 30, and AC – 40 (hardest).

• Note: AC – 10 is most commonly used in Pakistan

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Questions to Know
1. What are the flash point of bitumen and other materials?

2. What are the melting point of bitumen and other materials?

3. What are the boiling point of bitumen and other materials?

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Factors affecting the flash point and fire point
a. Pressure: the flash point temperature increases with increasing pressure and
decreases with decreasing pressure.
b. Oxidant: the flash point of pure liquid or mixture is greatly influenced by the type
of oxidant atmosphere (i.e. flash point of chemical in air will be different than the
flash point of the same chemical in another oxidant like chlorine).
c. Apparatus sheltered: should be sheltered from the sunlight because the sunlight
can rise the temperature of the sample before we start the heating and will
increase the rate (or affect it as a non-uniform one ) during the test. Then the flash
and fire point will be not exactly determining its value because of the large rate of
increasing temperature.
d. Others: tester configuration, sample size ignition source, temperature control,
sample homogeneity, drafts and operator.

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Open cup and Closed cup flash point
• Open Cup Flash Points: Measuring a flash point using an open cup method is, as the name
suggests, conducted in a vessel which is exposed to the air outside. The temperature of the
substance is gradually raised and an ignition source is passed over the top of it, until it reaches a
point at which it “flashes” and ignites. The most commonly-used open cup method is known as
the Cleveland Open Cup (COC).

• Closed Cup Flash Points, as the name suggests, the flash point in the closed cup method is
conducted inside a closed vessel which is not open to the outside atmosphere. The lid is sealed
and the ignition source is introduced into the vessel itself. The most commonly-used closed cup
method is known as Pensky Marten Closed Cup (PMCC).

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Safety Hazards of Bitumen
Should the general public be concerned about any hazards from spills.

bitumen?
• Bitumen is usually applied hot. Hot bitumen gives off

• No. The bitumen that is used on roads, roofs or pavements, for emissions that can cause minor respiratory tract or eye

example, is inert and does not present any known health or irritation after prolonged, close exposure.

environmental hazard.
• Apart from this temporary irritation, under normal conditions

Are there any safety hazards for people who work with there is no evidence that working with bitumen is hazardous

bitumen? to worker health.

• Bitumen is normally manufactured, stored, transported and• The risk of exposure to this hazard - and, therefore, the

handled at high temperatures. potential health impact on workers – is minimised through

good temperature control, clearly defined working practices

• The most significant hazard to workers who deal with hot
and appropriate protective workwear.
bitumen is the potential to cause burns in case of splashes or
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Protection Against Exposure to Emissions from Bitumen
Workers can minimise their exposure to potentially emissions by following
good working practices, such as:

• Keeping the temperature of the material as low as practically possible

• Working in well ventilated conditions (including simple practices e.g.

standing upwind of the source of fumes)

• Job rotation around the worksite

• Using personal protective equipment, especially in confined spaces.

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References
1. books.google.com.pk/ 9. www.eurobitume.eu/
2. cementconcrete.org/ 10. www.isfahanbitumen.com/
3. civilengineerspk.com/ 11. www.lonestarpavingtx.com/
4. theconstructor.org/ 12. www.prbdb.gov.in/
5. wecivilengineers.wordpress.com/ 13. www.quora.com/
6. www.academia.edu/ 14. www.rhd.gov.bd/
7. www.engineeringcivil.com/ 15. www.sciencedirect.com/
8. www.engineersedge.com/ 16. www.slideshare.net/

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 THANK YOU

Any Question?