Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
OBJECTIVE
To determine the softening point of bitumen or tar.
REQUIREMENTS
I. Standard Ring and Ball Apparatus
II. Steel balls (2 numbers each of 9.5mm diameter and 3.5 ± 0.05kg)
III. Brass Rings (2 numbers each of depth 6.4mm with inside diameter 15.9mm and
17.5mm at bottom and top respectively)
IV. Thermometer
V. Water bath and stirrer
VI. Bitumen
THEORY
Softening point is the temperature at which the substance attains a particular degree of
softening under specified conditions of test. The softening point is useful in the classification
of bitumen. It is the temperature at which a standard ball pass through a sample of bitumen in
a mould and falls through a height of 2.5cm when heated under water or glycerin at specified
conditions of test. The binder should have sufficient fluidity before its application in road uses.
The determination of softening point helps to know the temperature up to which a bituminous
binder should be heated for various road use application. Softening point is determined by ring
and ball apparatus.
Softening point indicates the temperature at which binders possess the same viscosity.
Bituminous materials do not have a definite melting point. Softening point has particular
significance for materials that are to be used as joint and crack fillers. Higher softening point,
lesser the temperature susceptibility. Bitumen with higher softening point may be preferred in
warmer places. The determination of softening point helps to know the temperature up to which
a bituminous binder should be heated for various road use applications. Softening point is
determined by ring and ball apparatus.
PROCEDURE
1. The material was heated to a temperature between 75 to 100°C above its softening point. It
was stirred until completely fluid and free from air bubbles and water.
2.The rings were placed previously heated to a temperature approximately to that of molten
material on a metal plate, which had been coated with a mixture of equal parts of glycerin and
dextrin.
2. The mould was filled with sufficient melt to give excess above the level of the ring. The
excess material was removed.
3. The apparatus with the rings was assembled with thermometer and ball guides in position.
4. The bath was filled to a height of 50mm above the upper surface of the rings with the freshly
boiled distilled water at a temperature of 5°C.
5. Heat was applied to the bath and liquid was stirred so that the temperature raised at a uniform
rate of 5 + 0.5 °C per minute until the material softened and allowed the balls to pass through
the ring.
6. The temperature was recorded when any of the steel ball with bituminous coating touched
the bottom plate.
Fig: Softening point test of Bitumen
PRECAUTIONS
1. The bulb of the thermometer should be at about the same level as the rings.
2. Distilled water should be used as the heating medium for accurate readings.
3. Equipment used in testing should be cleaned thoroughly.
4. Experiment should be performed carefully and safely.
5. Procedure should be followed as instructed.