Bitumen is a mixture of organic liquids that is black, highly viscous, sticky product used for paving roads, waterproofing products (used in sealing roofs). There are many tests which are conducted to check the quality of bitumen. Bitumen is very important component of many construction sites like roads, highways. Many tests are done to ensure the quality of bitumen such as:
Flash Point provides information required for safety in handling; it is essential that its flash point occurs at a much greater temperature than that at which road construction work is carried out.
Solubility indicates the purity (lack of contamination) of the product.
Viscosity indicates the degree of fluidity of the bitumen at a standard temperature. As the viscosity of bitumen varies according to its temperature, when comparing grades of bitumen it is essential to carry out the tests at a standard temperature.
Penetration indicates the hardness of bitumen. Bitumen is classified by the depth to which a standard needle will penetrate under specified test conditions. This “pen” test classification is used to indicate the hardness of bitumen, lower penetration indicating harder bitumen. Specifications for penetration graded bitumen normally state the penetration range for a grade, e.g. 50/70.
Other tests are used to classify the bitumen for specification purposes, such as softening point, distillation, storage stability, etc.
Bitumen Tests
| Bitumen and Emulsion | Test Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ash content of bituminous materials | ASTM D2172 | These test method cover procedure for sampling and testing the ash content of bituminous materials. |
| Bitumen mix design | ASTM D402, D88, D92,D2042 | "A mix design is prepared and tested to insure the required project specifications with the optimum cost. Please note: “This test is not priced, please contact us for more details” |
| Bulk S.G. &density of paving mixture | ASTM D2726 | This test method covers the determination of bulk specific gravity and density of specimens of compacted bituminous mixtures. This test method is not used with samples that contain open or interconnecting voids or absorb more than 2 % of water by volume, or both |
| Cement mixing test of emulsified asphalt | AASHTO T 59 | This test method cover the examination of Emulsified Asphalt composed principally of a semisolid or liquid asphalt base, water, and an emulsifying agent. |
| Coagulation of emulsion at low temperature | BS 434 | This method is for determining the coagulation of emulsion at low temperature |
| Density of rubber bituminous material | ASTM D70 | This test method covers the determination of the specific gravity and density of semi-solid bituminous materials, asphalt cements, and soft tar pitches by use of a pycnometer. |
| Dimensional stability of modified bituminous sheet material | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| Distillation of bitumen | ASTM D402 | This test method covers a distillation test for cut-back asphaltic (bituminous) products. This procedure measures the amount of the more volatile constituents in cut-back asphaltic products. The properties of the residue after distillation are not necessarily characteristic of the bitumen used in the original mixture, or of the residue which may be left at any particular time after field application of the cut-back asphaltic product. The presence of silicone in the cut-back may affect the distillation residue by retarding the loss of volatile material after the residue has been poured into the residue container. |
| Drilling of asphalt core | ASTM D979 | This practice covers sampling of bituminous paving mixtures at points of manufacture, storage, delivery, or in place. |
| Drying time of bitumen emulsion (bulk surface) | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. |
| Drying Time of Rubber Bituminous Material | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. |
| Effect of boiling water on coated aggregates | ASTM D3625 | This practice covers a rapid procedure for visually observing the loss of adhesion in uncompacted bituminous coated aggregate mixtures due to the action of boiling water. |
| Extraction of bitumen (Reflux) | ASTM D2172 | The paving mixture is extracted with trichloroethylene, normal Propyl Bromide, or methylene chloride using the extraction equipment applicable to the particular method. The bitumen content is calculated by difference from the mass of the extracted aggregate, moisture content, and mineral matter in the extract. The bitumen content is expressed as mass percent of moisture-free mixtures. |
| Flash and fire point | ASTM D92 | This test method describes the determination of the flash point and fire point of petroleum products by Cleveland open cup apparatus. The flash point is one measure of the tendency of the test specimen to form a flammable mixture with air under controlled laboratory conditions. It is only one of a number of properties that should be considered in assessing the overall flammability hazard of a material. Flash point is used in shipping and safety regulations to define flammable and combustible materials. Consult the particular regulation involved for precise definitions of these classifications. Flash point can indicate the possible presence of highly volatile and flammable materials in a relatively nonvolatile or nonflammable material. For example, an abnormally low flash point on a test specimen of engine oil can indicate gasoline contamination. The fire point is one measure of the tendency of the test specimen to support combustion. |
| Heat conditioning of modified bituminous sheets material | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| High temperature stability of modified bituminous material | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| Moisture content of modified bituminous sheet material | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| Particle charge test of emulsified asphalt | BS 434 Appendix C | This test method determines the particle charge of emulsified asphalt. This method identifies the type of bitumen emulsion. |
| Penetration of bitumen | ASTM D5 | This test method covers determination of the penetration of semi-solid and solid bituminous materials. |
| pH of bitumen | This test method determines the pH of bitumen using combined electrode. | |
| Residue by distillation of emulsified asphalt | ASTM D244 | This test method covers the quantitative determination of residue in asphalt emulsions composed principally of a semisolid or liquid asphaltic base, water, and an emulsifying agent. |
| Residue by evaporation of bitumen emulsion | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. in this section, the Residue by evaporation of bitumen emulsion is tested |
| Residue of emulsion on 0.15mm sieve | BS 434 Appendix D | This determines the percentage of residue retained on 0.15 mm sieve |
| Residue of emulsion on 0.71mm sieve | BS 434 | This determines the percentage of residue retained on 0.71 mm sieve |
| Resistance to heat of emulsified bitumen | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. |
| Saybolt viscosity | ASTM D88 | This test method covers the empirical procedures for determining the Saybolt Universal or Saybolt Furol viscosities of petroleum products at specified temperatures between 21°C and 99°C (70°F and 210°F). |
| Settlement of emulsified asphalt, 1 week | ASTM D244 | These test methods and practices, given under the headings titled Composition, Consistency, Stability, and Examination of Residue, cover the examination of asphalt emulsions composed principally of a semisolid or liquid asphaltic base, water, and an emulsifying agent. |
| Sieve test for emulsified asphalt | AASHTO T59 | This test method covers the degree to which emulsified asphalt may contain particles of asphalt or other discreet solids retained on an 850-μm mesh sieve. |
| Softening point of bitumen | ASTM D36 | This test method covers the determination of the softening point of bitumen in the range from 30°C to 157°C (86°F to 315°F) using the ring-and-ball apparatus immersed in distilled water (30°C to 80°C), USP glycerin (above 80°C to 157°C), or ethylene glycol (30°C to 110°C). 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. |
| Solubility of asphalt material | ASTM D2042 | This test method covers the determination of the degree of solubility in trichloroethylene of asphalt materials having little or no mineral matter |
| Specific gravity of asphalt cores (paraffin coated) | ASTM D2726 | This test method covers the determination of bulk specific gravity and density of specimens of compacted bituminous mixtures. |
| Specific gravity of bituminous materials | ASTM D71 | This test method covers the determination of relative density by water displacement of hard pitches and asphalts with softening points above 70°C. |
| Specific gravity of emulsion | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. in this section, the Specific gravity of emulsion is tested |
| Spot test | AASHTO-T102 | Spot Test of Asphaltic Materials. This method of test is applicable only to asphaltic products derived from petroleum and should not be applied to natural asphalts containing nonbituminous matter insoluble in xylene. Materials, which by use of standard solvent are classed as positive, may be further tested to determine their degree of positiveness by means of their “xylene equivalent.” The xylene equivalent shall be the lowest percentage by volume of xylene in a solvent composed of xylene and standard naphtha or xylene and normal heptane, as specified, which produces a “negative spot” for the material in question. These shall be known as the naphtha-xylene equivalent and heptane-xylene equivalent, respectively. |
| Spread of emulsion | MS 19 | TQP uses chemical and physical testing, either destructive or non-destructive, to verify the quality of your product. |
| Storage stability, 1 day | ASTM D244 | These test methods and practices, given under the headings titled Composition, Consistency, Stability, and Examination of Residue, cover the examination of asphalt emulsions composed principally of a semisolid or liquid asphaltic base, water, and an emulsifying agent. |
| Theoretical max. specific gravity of asphalt | ASTM D2041 | This test method covers the determination of the theoretical maximum specific gravity and density of uncompacted bituminous paving mixtures at 25°C |
| Thickness of asphalt core | ASTM D3549 | This test method covers determination of the thickness (or height) of compacted bituminous paving mixture specimens. |
| Thickness of modified bituminous material | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| Water content of bitumen | ASTM D95 | This test method covers the determination of water in the range from 0 to 25 % volume in petroleum products, tars, and other bituminous materials by the distillation method. |
| Weight of bituminous sheet membrane Kg/m2 | ASTM D5147 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing prefabricated, reinforced, polymer-modified bituminous sheet materials designed for single- or multiple-ply application in roofing and waterproofing membranes. These products may use various surfacing materials on one side. |
| Wet film continuity of emulsified bitumen | ASTM D2939 | These test methods cover procedures for sampling and testing emulsified bitumen used in relatively thick films as protective coatings for metals, built-up roofs, and bituminous pavements. in this section, the Wet film continuity of emulsified bitumen is tested |
