DISCUSSION

1. Penetration test is most widely used method of measuring the consistency of

bitumen, so that they can be classified into standard grades. 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.
2. The objective of this test is to examine the consistency of a sample of bitumen by
determining the distance in tenths of a millimetre that a standard needle vertically
penetrates the bitumen specimen under known conditions of loading, time and
temperature.
3. Bitumen is usually characterized in the following three types of grades which
viscosity grades, penetration grades and density grades.
4. Based on the result obtained, it was found that the penetration index (PI) for grade
80/100 bitumen is 0 which is classified as conventional paving bitumen. Meanwhile,
the penetration index (PI) for the grade 60/70 bitumen is -1 which is also classified
under bitumen type of conventional paving bitumen.
5. During conducting the experiment, there might be some errors which may give an
inaccurate data obtained. The error which might have occurred is the movement of
the container while needle penetrates into sample. Besides, the sample should be
free from any extraneous matter, thus may lead to inaccurate reading was taken.
Hence, to get an accurate result, the experiment must be done in ideal condition.
Lastly the needle should be cleaned with grease and dried before penetration.
6. Ring-and-Ball Test give indirect measure of viscosity or, the temperature at which a
given viscosity. 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. A high softening point ensures that they will not flow in service. For a
bitumen of a given penetration (determined at 25 oC), the higher the softening point
the lower the temperature sensitivity.

7. The objective for softening point test is to determine the softening point of bitumen
using ring and ball apparatus.
8. From result of the experiment, the softening point for grade 80/100 bitumen is in 21
minutes and 40 seconds at 45C and for the grade 60/70 bitumen is in 22 minutes
and 57 seconds at 49C. Bitumen grade 80/100 is more soft than bitumen grade
60/70 because it have more quality and suitable use for construction of road.
9. The experiment result is less accurate due to error during conducting the experiment.
The beaker contain sample of bitumen has been heated and stirred with inconstant
heat and speed. Besides, the error also occurs when reading temperature of water
from thermometer and gives less accurate result. The sample that are not in suitable
condition when the experiment is conduct.
10. The result can be more accurate through eye is level to the thermometer during
reading of temperature, make sure that sample is in good condition before start
conduct the experiment and the sample need to be stir and heat with constant
temperature and speed to avoid any effect on time and temperature for sample.