Penetration test bitumen

Penetration test of bitumen is applied exclusively to bitumen. Tars being soft, penetration tests on these materials cannot be carried out.

Penetration value of different types of bitumen used in road construction range between 20 to 225. However, 40/50 and 85/100 grade bitumen is more common for road construction depending upon the type of construction and climate conditions. In hot 40/50 bitumen is preferred.

The value of temperature effects the use of the bitumen. Lower penetration grade is used in warm climate condition to avoid softening and high penetration grade range of 180/210 are used in cold climate condition to prevent it from excessive brittleness.

In the last word, the Penetration test of Bitumen is used for the Garde of bitumen material in terms of its hardness. A 85/100 grade bitumen shows that its penetration value lies between 85 & 100.

PROCEDURE:

Heat the sample until it becomes fluid.
Pour it in a container to a depth such that when cooled, the depth of sample is at least 10mm greater than the expected penetration.
Allow it to cool in an atmospheric temperature.
Clean the needle and place a weight above the needle.
Use the water bath to maintain the temperature of specimen.
Mount the needle on bitumen, such that it should just touch the surface of bitumen.
Then start the stop watch and allow the penetration needle to penetrate freely at same time for 5 seconds. After 5 seconds stop the penetration.
Result will be the grade of bitumen.
Take at least three reading.

we can supplies all Penetration Graded Bitumen Grades in correspondence to ASTM D946-09 and EN 12591-2009, including:

ASTM D946-09 Grades:

EN 12591-2009 Grades:

Bitumen Penetration Grade 20/30
Bitumen Penetration Grade 30/45
Bitumen Penetration Grade 35/50
Bitumen Penetration Grade 40/60
Bitumen Penetration Grade 50/70
Bitumen Penetration Grade 70/100
Bitumen Penetration Grade 100/150
Bitumen Penetration Grade 160/220

Penetration test bitumen