SOFTENING POINT OF BITUMEN

Reference Standard: ASTM (1998).ASTM D36-95, Millard, R.S (1993)

INTRODUCTION
Unlike some substances for example water which changes from solid to liquid at 0

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
lower the temperature sensitivity.

the higher the softening point the

OBJECTIVE
The objective of the experiment is to determine the temperature at which given bitumen reaches a
certain degrees of softness.

APPARATUS
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
vi.

Steel ball of diameter 9.53mm and weighing 0.05g

Tapered ring made of brass and conforming to the standard BSI
Ball guide and ring holder
Thermometer
Beaker
Burner

 Temperature was noted just after the ball was passed and dropped into the base
plate.
The bath liquid was stirred and heated to 5 2 per minutes.
The steel balls were put on the surfaced of the bitumen in the ring.
Bath temperature is maintained at that temperature for 15 minutes.
After specimen had cold, ring was suspended in the distilled water in the
beaker at 5 2.
The bitumen was melted and the liquid was poured into a pair of ring placed
on plate.

6
5
4
3
2
1

PROCEDURES

RESULT
Record the temperature indicated by the thermometer at the beginning of the heating and at the end of
each 1 minute interval.
Timer reading
(min)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Temperature (C)
5.6
7.4
8.4
9.6
11
12.5
14.2
15.8
17.6
19.3
21
22.6
24.3
25.9
27.5

Timer reading
(min)
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

Temperature
(C)
29.1
30.6
32.2
33.8
35.4
36.9
38.4
39.8
41.3
42.9
44.4
46
47.5
49.1
-

The mean temperature of the two specimens (which shall not differ by more than 1 ) is recorded
as the softening point.
Number of Test

Softening Point ( )

48.40

49.10

Average

48.75

DISCUSSION
Based on the results that we obtained from the experiment, the

temperature of bitumen to become soft for test number 1 is 48.40

the test number 2, the temperature is 49.10 .

while for

Besides that, the average

temperature of softening point that we calculated is 48.75 .

The theoretical

value of the optimum temperature of bitumen softening point is between 48

to 52

according to Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) standard. The

temperature than we recorded is 48.75

which is situated in the theoretical

standard.
Cause and error during experimental;
i.

The bath temperature not maintained for 15minutes.

ii.

The bath temperature is not in the 5

iii.

Surrounding temperature may affect the water temperature.

range.

While doing the experiment, some safety measures have to be follow. Be alert
and make sure your hand doesnt touch the hot burner while taking the reading
as it may cause minor severe burn. After the experiment, the apparatus are
washed using hazards chemical. Ensure that you wash the apparatus in a fume
chamber with your gloves on.

CONCLUSION
To conclude, the final temperature of the softening point is 48.75
which match the theoretical value which is 48

to 52 . 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 experiments 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 asphalt and a paving mixture especially in road
design. This is to test the consistency of bitumen.

REFERENCES
1. http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/ring-and-ball+test
2. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you_perform_a_ring_and_ball_test_on_b
itemun
3. composite.about.com/library/glossary/b/bldef-b523.htm
4. ASTM (1998). D36-95 Standard test method for softening point of bitumen
(Ring-and-Ball Apparatus). 1998 Annual Books of ASTM Standards, Volume
V04.04, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA191031187.
5. Millard, R.S. (1993). Road building in the Tropics. Transport Research
Laboratory State-of-the-art Review 9, HMSO, London.
6. PWD (1992). PWD General Specification. Public Works Department,
Singapore 1987 (with amendments, 1992).

9.0 DISCUSSION
Based on the experiment conducted the bitumen in BS 4692. While doing this test,
preparation of this sample must be done under controlled condition as mentioned in BS 4692.
So this test is to be done with high consistency.
From the test, two values are recorded, which could be identified at the same time.
Insulated water is used at temperature of 0.5 oC. Two bearings with 9.53 mm diameter are put
on top of the samples.
Softening point is a temperature where the bitumen specimen fall and touch on the
base plate which is 25mm under the ring. For this experiment that we have done, we used two
ball bearings to determine the mean temperature in effort to get an exactly value. A different
temperature between both specimens that fall on the base is 0.50Cbecause both specimens
fall at temperature 450C and 490C.
The objective of the softening point is to determine temperature where tie materials or
bitumen achieve soft level in the condition that already decided. A ball bearing in 9.5 mm
diameters and 3.5 g was put on the specimen. For this test, we used water as a medium (bath
liquid) because the softening point cannot greater than 800C. Base on the bitumen grade by
JKR specification:
Softening point (0C), ASTM D36

Penetration GradeNot less than 48 and not more than

56 60 80
Not less than 45 and not more than 52 80 100
The softening point that we get is 470C. Thus this value is not fulfilling the bitumen
grade of Malaysia JKR specification.
Our mean temperature was 47 0C where both specimens touched the base plate. The
different values between both specimens are 40C. This is because those specimens not
touched the base at the same time. If the different temperature was more than 10C, it may be
because of the heat for the medium is not uniformly. Thus, we need to stir the medium in
effort to make sure the temperature is uniformly and with use magnetic stir, this problem can
be solve. Besides that, to heat the beaker we can use electronic heater to solve this problem.
Softening point is different for different asphalt. Normally, types of asphalt are
cement asphalt, emulsion asphalt, cutback asphalt, and tar. Cement asphalt always use in
roads pavement. They are remainder materials from petroleum distillate process. The

character of the cement asphalt is very good as a tie component. Cutback asphalt is in a liquid
condition at a normal temperature and it getting by mixed cement asphalt with light
dissolves.

Emulsion

asphalt

is

always

use

in

maintaining

asphalt

pavement

process. It is mixed from cement asphalt, water and emulsion materials. Tar is a liquid that
sticky, black and have a glue characteristic that always use as tie material in bitumen
pavement. Tar is get by destroy distillate charcoal, wood and syal.
10.0 CONCLUSION
As a conclusion, we can see that we achieve the objective of this softening point test
which is to determine the softening point of the bitumen within the range of 30Cto 157C by
means of the ring and ball apparatus. This is a basic test for the classification of
bituminous materials for the road construction. From the experiment, since the softening of
the bituminous material does not take place at any definite temperature, but rather involves a
granular change in consistency the penetration index and in conjunction with penetration and
loading time, can be used to estimate viscose elastic properties of both the asphalt and a
paving mixture.
This method can also be used to advantage to predict high-temperature shear
resistance of the paving mixture. Bitumens are viscoelastic materials without sharply defined
melting points; they gradually become softer and less viscous as the temperature
rises. For this reason, softening points must be determined by an arbitrary and closely defined
method if results are to be reproducible. The softening point is useful in the classification of
bitumens, as one element in establishing the uniformity of shipments or sources of supply,
and is indicative of the tendency of the material to flow at elevated temperatures encountered
in service.
From the nomograph in figure 1, we know that the penetration (PI) is -1, so that the
type of bitumen is Conventional Paving Bitumen The principle behind this test is that
softening point is the temperature at which the substance attains a particular degree of
softening under specified condition of the test.
From the nomograph in figure 1, we know that the penetration (PI) is -1, so thatthe type of
bitumen is Conventional Paving Bitumen The principle behind this test isthat softening point
is the temperature at which the substance attains a particular degreeof softening under
specified condition of the test.

REFERENCES

ASTM (1998). D36-95 Standard test method for softening point of bitumen (Ringand-Ball Apparatus). 1998 Annual Books of ASTM Standards, Volume V04.04,

American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1187.

Millard, R.S. (1993). Road building in the Tropics. Transport Research Laboratory

State-of-the-art Review 9, HMSO, London.

PWD (1992). PWD General Specification. Public Works Department, Singapore 1987

(with amendments, 1992).

www.ntu.edu.sg/cts/tlab/002.pdf