RING AND BALL TEST.docx

HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LABORAT0RY JOURNAL

RING AND BALL TEST (SOFTENING POINT TEST) Muhammad Farhan Bin Ibrahim¹, Muhammad Efendi Bin Asmat², Mohamad Adlan Bin Zamri³, Muhammad Afif Rusydi Bin Md Khalil⁴, Nur Izzati Emalia Bt Azhar⁵, Erin Marissa Bt Ramlan ⁶, Maizatul Aqmar Bt Yusup⁷, Zaila Maizuroh Bt Abd Muin⁸

Abstract The morphology of this test is that softening point is the temperature at which the substance achieve a specific degree of softening under specified condition of the test.The Softening Point of bitumen is the temperature at which the substance achieve specific of softening. When heated under water at specified condition and specific temperature in ºC at which a standard ball passes through a sample of mould and falls through a height of 2.5 cm. The purpose of softening point helps to know the temperature up to which a bituminous binder should be heated for different road use application.The ring and ball apparatus determine the softening point . Keywords:softening point,temperature,bitumen,degree of softening,ring and balls INTRODUCTION The ring and ball test is for determining the softening point of bitumen. Softening point can be defined as the temperature at which a substance achieve a specific degree of softness under specified condition test. The softening point is useful in the classification of bitumen. The ring and ball softening point test involve heating two small samples of the bitumen in a container of water.The ring is immersed to a depth such that its bottom is exactly 25mm(1in) above the bottom of the bath. The temperature of the bath is then gradually increased,causing the bitumen to soften and permitting the ball to sink eventually to the bottom of the bath. A metal ball is placed on top of each ring sample.

The temperature at which each ball touches a bar near the bottom is called the “softening point”. A high softening point is preferable to a low one. In addition, if the two balls drop at temperatures more than 2 degrees apart, the test is invalidated and must be repeated.The ring and ball test is important for testing the bitumen material for road/highway project.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 is evident. The softening point value has particular significance for materials which are to be used as thick films such as joint and crack filters and roofing material. A high softening point ensures that they will not flow in services. For bitumen of a given penetration determined at 25ºC the higher the softening point the lower the temperature sensitivity.

HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LABORAT0RY JOURNAL OBJECTIVE To determine the Softening Point of Bitumen by ring and ball method. The temperature which the bitumen achieve consistent under the specified condition of the test is called softening point of bitumen.At give the temperature at which the bitumen plastic state to liquid state. Apparatus 1.

Standard ring-and-ball test apparatus

2.

Thermometer

3.

Bath

4.

Bath liquid (water)

5.

Stirrer

6.

Heater

7.

Stopwatch

PROCEDURE 1.

The bitumen was melted and the liquid was poured into a pair of ring placed on plate.

2.

Some water was in a beaker to prepare a water bath.The magnetic stirrer was put in the beaker.Some ice cubes were put in the beaker.

3.

After the bath had cold,ring was suspended in the distilled water in the beaker at 5ºC ± 2ºC.The temperature is measured by thermometer.

4.

Bath temperature is maintained for 15 minutes.

5.

The steel ball were put on the surface of the bitumen in the ring

6.

The bath liquid was stirred and heated for 5ºC ± 2ºC per minutes.

7.

The temperature just noted just after the ball was passed and dropped into the base plate

RESULT The result which obtained from the test is as follow:For bitumen grade 80/100

Ring No. Figure 1:Ring and Ball softening point apparatus

Example calculation Average = ball 1 + ball 2 2 =60ºC + 52ºC

A B

2 =56 ºC DISCUSSION

Instant Temperature, ºC 60 52

Softening Point, Average ºC 56

HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LABORAT0RY JOURNAL Based on the result that we obtained from the experiment, the temperature for the bitumen to be soft for test number 1 (ball 1) is 60ºC while for the test number 2 (ball 2) is 52ºC. Besides that, the average temperature of softening point that we calculated is 56ºC. The theoretical value of the optimum temperature of bitumen softening point is between 48ºC to 52ºC according to Jabatan Kerja Raya (JKR) standard. The temperature we recorded is 56ºC which is not situated in theoretical standard. Cause and error during the experiment: i. The bath temperature is not maintained for 15 minutes ii. The bath temperature is not in the 5ºC ± 2ºC range. iii. The brass ring is not placed correctly in the center of the plate. iv. The stirrer is not function correctly v. Surrounding temperature may affect the temperature.. While doing the temperature, some safety measures has to be follow. Be alert and make sure your hand doesn’t touch the heater while taking the readings as it may cause severe burn. After the experiment, the apparatus are washed thoroughly with clean water or using hazard chemical.

RECOMMENDATION Bituminous materials do not have a melting point.Softening point specify the temperatures at which binders posses the same viscosity. Rather, the change of state from solid to liquid is slowly over a wide range of temperature. Softening point has certain importance for materials to be used as joint and crack fillers.The higher the softening point ,

the lesser the temperature susceptibility. Higher softening point ensures that they will not flow during service. Bitumen with higher softening point is preferred in warmer places . CONCLUSION To conclude, the final temperature of the softening point is 56ºC which does not match the theoretical standard which is 48ºC to 52ºC. The objective of the experiment is not achieved. During conducting the experiment, some errors that occurs will affects the final result. Before doing the experiment, make sure the ring ball does not hold the ball guide in stationary. Adjust the ring until the ball can pass through freely. In addition, to get good result, ensure you conduct the experiment in room temperature condition. The purpose of this test in the industry is to estimate the viscoelastic properties of both bitumen and paving mixture especially in road design. This is to test the consistency of bitumen.

REFERENCE  B.L. Pearce, Comparison of Temperature Variations For Softening Point Apparatus With Varying Filler: Binder Ratio, Cape Technikon, Department of Civil Engineering PO Box 652, Cape Town,8000  ASTM(1998).D26-95 Standard test method for softening point of bitumen(Ring-and-Ball Apparatus)

HIGHWAY & TRAFFIC ENGINEERING LABORAT0RY JOURNAL 1998 Annual Books of ASTM Standards, Volume V04.04, American Society for Testing and Materials, Philadelphia, PA 191031187.  ASTM (1978): “Standard Tests Method for Resistance to Plastic Flow of Bituminous Mixtures using Marshall Apparatus.” Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Part 15, pp.425 -433.

Penetration is related to viscosity and empirical relationship have been developed for Newtonian materials. If penetration is measured over a range of temperatures, the temperature susceptibility of the bitumen can be established. The nomograph as given in Table 1 enables the PI to be deduced approximately from the penetration at 25ºC and the softening point temperature. Typical values of PI are Bitumen Type

PI

Blown Bitumen Conventional Paving Bitumen Temperature Susceptible Bitumen

>2 -2 to +2