Standard Method of Test for

Saybolt Viscosity
AASHTO Designation: T 72-97 (2005)
ASTM Designation: D 88-94 (1999)

American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

444 North Capitol Street N.W., Suite 249
Washington, D.C. 20001

Standard Method of Test for

Saybolt Viscosity
AASHTO Designation: T 72-97 (2005)
ASTM Designation: D 88-94 (1999)
AASHTO T 72-97 (2005) is identical to ASTM D 88-94 (1999), except for the
following provisions:
1. All references to ASTM standards listed in the following table shall be replaced with the
corresponding AASHTO standard.
Referenced Standards
ASTM
D 93
D 140
D 244
D 2170
E 11

AASHTO
T 73
T 40
T 59
T 201
M 92

2.

Replace Sections 6.2 with the following:

Withdrawal Tube, as shown in Figure 2, or other suitable device.

3.

Replace Section 6.3 with the following:

Thermometer Support. One suitable design is shown in Figure 3.

4.

Replace Section 6.6 with the following:

Filter Funnel, as shown in Figure 4, equipped with interchangeable 850-m (No. 20),
150-m (No. 100), and 75-m (No. 200) wire-cloth inserts meeting the requirements
of M 92 with respect to the wire cloth. Filter funnels of a suitable alternate design
may be used.

TS-2a

5.

Replace Section 7.1 with the following:

Sample the material in accordance with T 40 as appropriate.

6.

Replace Section 8.7 with the following:

Provide adequate stirring and thermal control for the bath so that the temperature of a
test sample in the viscometer will not vary more than 0.05C (0.09F) after
reaching the selected test temperature.

7.

Replace Section 9.1 with the following:

Calibrate the Saybolt Universal viscometer at intervals of not more than three years
by measuring the efflux time at 37.8C (100F) of an appropriate viscosity oil
standard, following the procedure given in Section 10. See Annex A2 for viscosity oil
standards available.

8.

Replace Section 10.2 with the following:

Insert a cork stopper into the air chamber at the bottom of the viscometer; a small
chain or cord may be attached to the cork to facilitate rapid removal. The cork shall fit
tightly enough to prevent the escape of air, as evidenced by the absence of oil on the
cork when it is withdrawn later as described.

9.

The last sentence in Section 10.3 is not included.

T 72-1

2008 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.

AASHTO

10. Replace Section 10.4 with the following:

Stir the sample well, then strain it through a wire cloth of appropriate mesh directly
into the viscometer until the level is above the overflow rim. The wire cloth shall be
150-m (No. 100) mesh except as noted in T 59 (Testing Emulsified Asphalt).
Also, insert additional sections immediately following Section 10.4 containing the following:
For liquid asphalt materials having highly volatile components, such as the rapidcuring and medium-curing cutbacks, preheating in an open container shall not be
permitted.
The material shall be poured at room temperature into the viscometer, or if the
material is too viscous to pour conveniently at room temperature, it shall be warmed
sufficiently by placing the sample in the original container in a 50C (122F) water
bath for a few minutes prior to pouring. Filtering through a wire cloth shall be
omitted.
For tests above room temperature, greater temperature differentials than indicated in
Table 2 will be permitted during the heating period, but the bath temperature must be
adjusted to within the prescribed limits prior to the final minute of stirring during
which the temperature of the sample remains constant.
11. Add a last sentence to Section 10.5.4 containing the following:
Complete the viscosity test within one hour after reheating.
12. Replace Section 10.6 with the following:
Stir the sample in the viscometer with the appropriate viscosity thermometer equipped
with the thermometer support (Figure 3). Use a circular motion at 30 to 50 r/min in a
horizontal plane. When the sample temperature remains constant within 0.05C
(0.10F) of the test temperature during 1 min of continuous stirring, remove the
thermometer.
13. Replace Section 10.8 with the following:
Check to be sure that the receiving flask is in proper position. Then, snap the cork
from the viscometer, and start the timer at the same instant; a small chain or cord may
be attached to the cork to facilitate rapid removal.
14. Replace Section 11.2.1 with the following:
11.2.1 Report values to the nearest whole second.
15. Replace Table 2 with the following:
Table 2Recommended Bath Media
Standard Test
Temperature,
C (F)
21.1 (70)
25.0 (77)
37.8 (100)
50.0 (122)
54.4 (130)
60.0 (140)
82.2 (180)
98.9 (210)
a

Recommended Bath Medium

water
water
water, or oil of 50 to 70 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)
water, or oil of 120 to 150 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)
water, or oil of 120 to 150 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)
water, or oil of 120 to 150 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)
water, or oil of 300 to 370 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)
oil of 330 to 370 SUS viscosity at 37.8C (100F)

Max Temp
Differential,a
C (F)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.15 (0.27)
0.20 (0.36)
0.30 (0.54)
0.50 (0.9)
0.80 (1.4)
1.10 (2.0)

Bath Temperatures
Control Functional,
Precision
C (F)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)
0.05 (0.09)

Maximum permissible difference between bath and sample temperatures at the time of the test.

16. Change the fourth sentence of Section A1.2 to the following:

The heaters and coil should be located at least 75 mm (3 in.) from the viscometer.

TS-2a

T 72-2

2008 by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.

All rights reserved. Duplication is a violation of applicable law.

AASHTO