INTRODUCTION

Unlike some substances bituminous materials do not have a definite melting point. Instead,
as the temperature rises, these materials slowly change from brittle or very thick and slow-flowing
materials to softer and less viscous liquids. For this reason, the determination of 'softening point'
must be made by a fixed, arbitrary and closely defined method if results are to be comparable.
Being very simple in concept and equipment, the Ring-and-Ball Test 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 a 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 materials. A high softening
point ensures that they will not flow in service. For a bitumen of a given penetration (determined
at 25), the higher the softening point the lower the temperature sensitivity. Research has shown
that, for conventional paving grade bitumen, the Ring and-Ball softening point temperature is the
same as that which would give a penetration of 800 d-mm. This, together with the penetration at
25, can beused to compute the Penetration Index.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the quality of bitumen used in flexible pavement.

APPARATUS
a) Ring-and-ball test b) Penetration test
- Beaker - Penetration apparatus
- Stopwatch - Penetration needle
- Glove - Distilled water
- Brass ring - Thermometer
- Steel ball - Glove
- Stirrer - Tray
- Container

MATERIAL

a) Ring-and-ball test b) Penetration test

- Bitumen sample - Bitumen sample
- Ice cube - Kerosene
PROCEDURE

a) Ring-and-Ball Test
1. The sample was heated to a temperature between 75 and 100C above the approximate
softening point until it is completely fluid.
2. Next, it was placed in the brass ring and suspended the in the water at a given temperature.
3. A steel ball then placed on the sample and water was heated such that the water temperature
increases by 5C per minute.
4. The temperature reading was taken when the softened sample touches the metal plate. The
noted temperature is the softening point of the bitumen.

b) Penetration Test
1. 3 specimens of bitumen samples was prepared and placed in a water bath for 1 to 1.5 hours
before test.
2. In this test, the needle was positioned on the surface to the bitumen at right angles, then the
load applied and allowed to penetrate the bitumen for 5 s. The temperature of the specimen
was maintained at 25 C.
3. The penetration were measured in tenths of a millimeter (deci-millimetre, d-mm).
4. Three penetrations were made on the specimen by using a clean needle for each determination.
5. In making repeat determinations, the tip of the needle was positioned at least 10 mm from the
side of the container and at least 10 mm apart.

OBSERVATION & RESULT

Ring-and-Ball Test

Softening point () Mean ()

1 47
47.5
2 48

Penetration Test

Penetration depth Average penetration Mean penetration

Sample Trial
(mm) depth (mm) depth (mm)
1st 79
1 2nd 67 69.00
3rd 61
1st 80
2 2nd 69 69.67 69.33
3rd 60
1st 80
3 2nd 78 69.33
3rd 50

DISCUSSION
The softening point is the temperature at which the substance attains particular degree of softening
under specified condition of test. In this experiment, determined by ring-and-ball test. A brass ring
containing the test sample of bitumen is suspended in water at a given temperature. In ring-and-
ball test, the softening point is the temperature at which the bitumen sample just touches the bottom
plate. The objective of ring-and-ball test has been achieved. According to our group result, the
softening point of this bitumen sample 1 is 47 and the softening point for sample 2 is 48. So,
the mean value for both sample is 47.5. This means, the bitumen will start to melt and flow at
this particular temperature. In this experiment, the lower the softening point, the lower the
temperature in which bitumen can be used and the higher the temperature will cause the lesser the
susceptibility. Therefore, our country like Malaysia needs bitumen with higher softening point.
This is because, the weather in Malaysia usually is very hot and humid.
Penetration test determine the quality of bitumen and consistency of bitumen, by measuring
the depth to which a standard needle will penetrate vertically under specified condition of standard
load and duration during 5 seconds .The quality of bitumen sample is specified in term of
penetration value. In this penetration test, the softer the bitumen sample, the greater will be
penetration. The experiment has not been performed successfully and the mean penetration value
came out to be 69.33 mm. According to the table of penetration test, the values ranging should
have difference of maximum 4. In our experiment, the difference are more than 4. So, our
performed experiment and penetration value is not correct.
The nomograph given in the figure 1 enables the penetration index to be determine from the
penetration test and ring-and-ball test. The typical values of penetration index are:

Bitumen type Penetration index

Blown bitumen >2
Conventional paving bitumen -2 to +2
Temperature susceptible (tars) <-2
 Based on our experiment, the value of penetration index is 1.5. Thus, the bitumen sample is
temperature susceptible (tars). Thus, the bitumen used in this experiment may not be too suitable
to be used in designing asphalt pavement because it is susceptible to rapid changes in temperature.

There are several safety and precaution in ring-and ball and penetration test:
a) Use hand gloves while removing container from hot plate after switching off the
hotplate.
b) Use kerosene to remove the bitumen from the container
c) Use distilled water in test for accuracy result of the ring-and-ball test.
d) The equipment should be cleaned thoroughly before and after testing

CONCLUSION

The sample of bitumen gives a softening value of 47.5 with the respective penetration index of
-1.5. However, since the variation in the penetration value is more than the permissible value, the
test can be concluded as failed.

REFERENCE

1) Penetration Test .Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/doc/62477889/Experiment-

Penetration-Test on 8th April 2017

2) Softening Test Of Bitumen.Retrieved from http://civilblog.org/2013/05/12/softening-point-

of-bitumen-is12051978/ on 8th April 2017