Determination of Softening Point of Bituminous Material: Objective

DETERMINATION OF SOFTENING POINT OF
BITUMINOUS MATERIAL
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the softening point of bitumen/Tar.
To determine suitability of bitumen with the environment condition.
APPRATUS REQUIRED:
(i) The ring and ball apparatus consists of following
(a) Steel balls-two numbers each of 9.5 mm dia. and weighing 3.5±0.05 g.
(b) Brass rings-two numbers each having depth of 6.4 mm. The inside diameter
at bottom and top is 15.9 mm and 17.5 mm respectively.
(c) Ball guides to guide the movement of steel balls centrally.
(d) Support that can hold rings in position and also allows for suspension of a
thermometer. The distance between the bottom of the rings and the top surface of the
bottom plate of the support is 25 mm.
(ii) Thermometer that can read up

to 100 ° C with an accuracy of 0.2
° C.
(ii) Bath: A heat resistant glass
beaker not less than 85 mm in
diameter and 1220 mm in depth.
(iv) Stirrer.
THEORY:
Unlike some substances for example water which changes from solid to liquid at 0 ⸰C
bituminous materials do not have a definite melting point. Instead, as the temperature
raises these materials slowly changes from brittle or very and slow flowing materials
to softer and less viscous liquids. For this reason, the determination of softening
point must be made by affixed, arbitrary and closely defined method if results are
to be comparable. Being very simple in concept and equipment the ring and bell has
remained a valuable consistency test for control in refining operations particularly in
the production of air blown bitumen. It is also an indirect measure of viscosity or
rather the temperature at which the given viscosity is evident. 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 material. A high softening point ensures that they
will not flow in-service. For bitumen of a given penetration determined at 25 the
higher the softening point the lower the temperature sensitivity.
The softening point of bitumen or tar is the temperature at which the substance
attains particular degree of softening. As per IS 334-1982, it is the temperature (in °
C) at which a standard ball passes through a sample of bitumen in a mould and falls
through a height of 2.5 cm. when heated under water or glycerin at specified
conditions of test. The binder should have sufficient fluidity before its applications 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 applications.
Softening point is determined by ring and ball apparatus.
PROCEDURE:
a) – FOR MATERIALS HAVING SOFTENING POINTS 80°C OR BELOW
(i) Preparation of test sample: The material was heated to a temperature between75-
100°C above its softening point: stir until fluid was completely free from air bubbles
and water, If necessary it was filtered through IS sieve 30.The rings were placed
previously heated to a temperature approximating to that of the molten material on
metal plate which has been coated with a mixture of equal parts glycerin and dextrine.
After cooling for 30 minutes in air, the material was leveled in the ring by removing the
excess with a warmed, sharp knife.
(ii) The apparatus was assembled with the rings, thermometer and ball guides in
position
(iii) The bath was filled with distilled water to a height of 50 mm above the upper
surface of the rings. The starting should be 5 °C
(iv) Heat was applied to the bath and stirred the liquid so that the temperature rises at a
uniform rate of 5± 0.5 C per minute.
(v) As the temperature increases the bituminous material was softened and the ball sink
through the ring, carrying a portion of the material with it.
(vi) The temperature was noted down when any of the steel ball with bituminous
coating touches the bottom plate.
(Vii) Temperature was recorded when the second ball also touches the bottom plate.
The average of the two readings to the nearest 0.5 C was reported as the softening
point.
NOTES: IF
b) – FOR MATERIALS HAVING SOFTENING POINTS ABOVE 80°C
Follow the same procedure as described above, except use USP glycerin instead
of water and use ASTM Thermometer l6°C or 16°F. The starting temperature of
the glycerin bath shall be 32°C.
OBSERVATION:
Ball 1 2
Temperature when 55 58
Ball touches the bottom
Average= 56.5° C
Softening point of bituminous/tar =56.5° C
RESULT:
Hence from above experiment the value of softening point of bituminous/tar was
found to be 56.5°C.
DISCUSSION:
Based on the results that we obtained from the experiment, the temperature of bitumen
to become soft for test number 1 is 55 while for the test number 2, the temperature is 58
° C.Besides that, the average temperature of softening point that we calculated is 56.5°
C . If the difference between the two samples in the same test exceeds 1°C, the test
must be repeated. But we due to insufficient time we concluded the result as 56.5 C
Cause and error during experimental
i. The bath temperature not maintained for 15 minutes.
ii. The bath temperature is not in the (5±2)° C range.
iii. Surrounding temperature may affect the water temperature.
iv. When we use the same sample many times in this test (reheating and retesting) the
results will have an error in the softening point because that will make
the material less viscous and we will get error in the results.
v. As we looking for our sample we can see that it has a low viscosity
vi. When we increasing the rate of heating, the softening point will be less than
the standard (original).
vii. If there is sand in the sample the boiling point will be increase, then the
softening point will be increase
CONCLUSION:
To conclude, the final temperature of the softening point is 56.5 ° C The objective of
this experiment was achieved. During conducting the experiment, there are some errors
that occurred which will affect the final result. In order to prevent this from happening,
there are methods to improve the experiment’s result. Before doing the experiment,
make sure the Ring holder does not hold the Ball guide in stationary. Adjust the ring
until the ball can pass through freely. In addition, to get good results, ensure you
conduct the experiment in room temperature condition. The purpose of this test in the
industry is to estimate viscoelastic properties of both bitumen and a paving mixture
especially in road design. This is to test the consistency of bitumen. Softening point
indicates the temperature at which binders possess the same viscosity. Bituminous
materials do not have a definite melting point. Rather the change of state from solid to
liquid gradual and over a wide range of temperature. This value is also affected by
temperature at lab condition so there might have some errors. Higher softening point
ensures that they will not flow during service. It will be suitable in construction of road
at the higher temperature zone.
PRECAUTIONS
(i) Distilled water should be used as the heating medium.
(ii) During the conduct of west the apparatus should not be subjected to vibrations.
(iii) The bulb of the thermometer should be at about the same level as the rings.

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(ii) Thermometer that can read up

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