PART B: SOFTENING POINT OF BITUMEN

CONTENTS

TITLES PAGES

Introduction 2

Safety and Health Procedures 3

Objective 4

Apparatus 5

Procedures 6

Result 7

Discussion 8

Conclusion 9
 INTRODUCTION

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°C the higher the softening point the lower the temperature sensitivity.
 SAFETY AND HEALTH PROCEDURES

1. Always wear safety glasses in the shop.

2. Do not set up or operate any machinery unless an instructor is in the shop.
3. Do not operate any machine unless authorized to do so by an instructor or under an
instructor's supervision.
4. Use the proper tool for the job. Many cuts in the shop occur because a wrench slips and a
hand hits a sharp cutting tool.
5. Check tools before use to assure they are safe to use.
6. Do not leave tools or work on the table of a machine even if the machine is not running.
Tools or work may fall off and cause a toe or foot injury.
7. Put tools away when not in use.
8. Place all scrap pieces in the correct containers.
9. Never handle chips with your hands or fingers. Chips are extremely sharp and can easily
cause cuts.
10. Use a brush to remove chips -- not hands, fingers, or rags.
11. Never wear gloves or use rags to clean the work piece or any part of a machine that is
running. Rotating tools or parts can grab gloves and rags and pull you into the machine.
12. Never use compressed air to clean any machine.
13. Never use compressed air to clean your clothes or yourself.
14. If using compressed air to clean a part, point the air hose down and away from yourself and
other persons.
15. Do not run in the shop, there should be no "fooling around" in the shop at anytime. Don't
be a "wise guy."
16. Get first aid immediately for any injury.
17. Get help for handling large, long, or heavy pieces of material or machine attachments.
18. Follow safe lifting practices, lift with your leg muscles, not your back. If you do not know
how to lift safely, ask an instructor to show you.
19. Aisles should be clear at all times to avoid tripping or other accidents
 OBJECTIVES

The objective of this experiment is to determine the softening point of bitumen. Hard bitumen
has a high softening point different from soft bitumen that has low softening point. When the
temperature risen, the bitumen characteristic will change from solid to liquid form means that
the hardness of bitumen are reduce.

APPARATUS

 Beaker
 Brass Ring
 Steel Ball
 Ball Guide
 Ring Holder

 Magnetic Stirrer
 Thermometer
 PROCEDURE
1. The bituminous was heated and stirred until it reached it softening point for not more
than 30 minutes. Any air bubble on the heated samples was avoided.
2. The brass ring were heated and were placed on flat plate that been poured with talc.
3. The samples were poured on the each of brass ring until full and leave it cooled in
room temperature for 30 minutes.
4. The top of brass ring was flatten by using spatula that been heated.
5. The brass rings, ball guide, ring holder and thermometer were placed in the beaker in
depth of 102mm till 108mm or 50mm above the brass ring surface.
6. The temperature of water in the beaker was monitored constantly at 5° for 15 minutes
by using ice. The steel ball was place at the center of the ring by using holder.
7. The water temperature rose at rate 5 +/- 0.5°C per minute by heated the water and the
stirrer was switched on.
8. The water was keep heated until the bitumen softens and the steel ball fell at the
bottom of ring holder plate.
9. The temperatures when the bitumen sagged and the bitumen softens are taken noted