Experiment No 4.

3
Experiment Name: SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF BITUMEN.

Aim: To determine the specific gravity of given bituminous material.

Relevant Codes:
IS 1202-1978, (First Revision), - Methods for testing tar and bituminous materials;
Determination of specific gravity, Bureau of Indian Standards, New Delhi.
Relevance and Importance:
1. Specific gravity being a fundamental property of a bitumen binders is frequently used in
classifying binders for use in paving jobs.
2. Specific gravity is also used in identification of the source of bitumen binder.
3. If bitumen contains a mineral impurities the specific gravity will be higher, this makes it
possible for a quantitative extraction of mineral impurity in binders.
4. Weight of bitumen is sometimes converted into volumes for asphalt concrete mix design
calculations for which specific gravity details are important.
Test Description:
Pycnometer is used for doing this test. Empty weight of pycnometer, weight of pycnometer
partially filled with bitumen, weight of pycnometer partially filled with bitumen and rest filled
with water, and weight of pycnometer fully filled with water is observed and noted down. Then
specific gravity is calculated using a suitable formula.
Apparatus Required:
1. Specific Gravity bottle: 50 ml capacity, - Ordinary capillary type with 6 mm diameter
neck or wide mouthed capillary type bottle with 25 mm diameter neck.
2. Water bath constant type for maintaining the desired temperature within 0.2C variation
of required temperature.
3. Bath thermometer
Procedure:

1. The clean, dried weight of the specific gravity bottle along with stopper is taken and
noted as Ag.
2. The bottle is filled with freshly boiled and then cooled distilled water. The bottle is kept
in water for cooling at 27C for at least half an hour. The bottle is then removed and
wiped from outside and the weight of it is noted as Bg.
3. After this the bottle is emptied and dried and warmed slightly, the bituminous material is
heated to a pouring temperature and then the material is poured to fill half the bottle and
the care is taken to prevent the entering the air bubbles. To permit the entered air bubbles
to escape the bottle is allowed to stand in still condition for half an hour. The weight of
the bottle filled partially with bitumen is noted as Cg.
4. The remaining part of the bottle is then filled with water at 27C and then stopper is
placed and bottle is placed at 27C for 30 minutes. Now the weight ids noted as Dg
Observation Table:
1. Grade of Bitumen:___________________.
2. Observed test temperature:___________________.
Sample No

Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the Weight of the Specific

empty

bottle

with bottle

with bottle

with Gravity

bottle(g)

distilled

half-filled

half-filled

water(g)

bitumen(g)

bitumen and
half-filled
water(g)
D

Calculations:

Specific Gravity:

CA
( BA )( DC )

Where,
ABCD-

Weight of specific gravity bottle.

Weight of specific gravity bottle filled with distilled water.
Weight of specific gravity bottle about half filled with bituminous material.
Weight of specific gravity bottle about half filled with bituminous material and the
remaining with distilled water.

Result and Discussions: