Penetrometer

Penetrometer an instrument used to measure the hardness of a substance by

inserting a needle into the substance in a prescribed manner.
The apparatus is mainly used to conduct penetration tests on bitumen for
grading purposes. The penetrometer comes with some accessories and finds
application in various fields.

This equipment is used to determine grade of bitumen. Penetration tests are

being conducted to find out consistency of bitumen for grading purposes.
Penetration for gradation is determined in terms of depth of 1/10 of
millimeter to which a standard needle of standard weight penetrates
vertically in course of five seconds at a temperature of 25 º C.

It is usually Used to determine the consistency of a bituminous sample

under fixed conditions of load, time and temperature. The penetration is
expressed in distance of tenths of millimeters vertically penetrated
by a standard needle. The standard penetrometer is ruggedly constructed,
with a base table in light alloy with levelling screws, plated vertical rod, micrometric
vertical adjustment device. The slider is brass made with free fall. The dial, division 0, 1
mm. The penetrometer is supplied with stop and release push button, automatic zero set,
micrometer adjustment, set of weights 50 and 100 g. penetration needle, two sample cups
dia. 55x35 mm and 70x45 mm.
Applications
Penetrometer is mainly used to determine grade of bitumen. Some other fields, where it
finds application are:

• Geotechnical Studies
• Soil Study
• Construction (Buildings, Bridges, Dams, etc.)
• Petroleum Industry

Accessories supplied with the Penetrometer apparatus

• Penetrometer Cone, made of gunmetal and is fitted with a hardened and ground
detachable steel, tip and a stem. The cone is used for empirical estimation of
penetration of lubricating grease, petroleum jelly etc.

• Besides, the above mentioned apparatus, there is an Automatic Standard

Penetrometer available in the market for bitumen testing. Highway Design &
Construction
• A diagnostic tool to measure the extent and depth of subsurface compaction is a
penetrometer, or soil compaction tester.

Reference: www.thetestequipment.com
Uses :

• For determination of close cup flash points of fuel, oils, other viscous material
and suspension of solids.
• Useful for both low range as well as high range flash points of samples using
different thermometers IP-15C or IP-16C respectively.

Applications

The flash point apparatus, which is mainly used to determine flash point of petroleum
products, finds application in the following areas:

• Petroleum Industry
• Industrial Chemical Analysis
• Research Laboratories
• Petrochemical Industry
• Grease, Lubricants Industry

The instrument has a brass test cup along with a detachable cup cover. It is essentially a
petroleum testing instrument meant for determining the flash point of petroleum products.
Flash point apparatus is a petroleum testing equipment for determining the flash point of
fuels, lube oils, solvents and other liquids.
The flash point is the lowest temperature at which the vapor formed above a pool of the
liquid ignites in air at a pressure of 1 atmosphere.