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ICS 75.

140

R O M AN I AN S TAN D AR D
Bitumens Determination of penetration

STAS 42-68
Classification index A 57 Replacing: STAS 42-51 Previous editions: Validation date: 1969-09-01

GENERAL

1.1 This standard specifies to the method for determining the penetration of bitumens.
1.2 By penetration, it is understand the depth to which a needle penetrates, having specified shape and under a
specified charge, under determinate conditions. Penetration is expressed in tenths of millimeter.

1.3 The method is also applied for determining the penetration of ceresin wax.

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APPARATUS

Richardson penetrometer (figure 1) equipped with manual coupling and decoupling or with manual coupling and automatic decoupling, consisting of: - metallic adjustable base equipped with 3 screws (1) and a small round level by which the device is brought to horizontal position.

Fig. 1 On the adjustable base, a support (2) is mounted, fitted at the lower end with a disc (3) that can rotate and on which the bath with the product subjected to determination is laid. Support (2) contains an arm (4) through which a vertical rod (5) passes, and at its lower end a special needle (6) is fixed, figure 1 and figure 2; on the rod a 50 g weight is added.

ASOCIAIA DE STANDARDIZARE DIN ROMNIA (ASRO),


Adresa potal: str. Mendeleev 21-25, 70168, Bucureti 1, Direcia General: Tel.: +40 1 211.32.96; Fax: +40 1 210.08.33, Direcia Standardizare: Tel. : +40 1 310.43.08; +40 1 310.43.09, Fax: +40 1 315.58.70, Direcia Publicaii: Serv. Vnzri/Abonamente: Tel: +40 1 212.77.25, +40 1 212.79.20, +40 1 212.77.23, +40 1 312.94.88 ; Fax : +40 1 210.25.14, +40 1 212.76.20

ASRO

Entire or partial multiplication or use of this standard in any kind of publications and by any means (electronically, mechanically, photocopy, micromedia etc.) is strictly forbidden without a prior written consent of ASRO

STAS 42-68

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The rod together with the needle and the added have the total weight of (100 0.25) grams. The rod can move freely on the vertical direction. The downwards movement takes place by means of its own weight and of the added counterweight. This movement can be triggered and stopped by pushing a button with spring. On the same support (2), at its upper end, there is another arm which has a dial (7) divided in tenths of millimeter and equipped with a pointing needle. The vertical movement of the rod can be transmitted to the pointing needle through the rack by which the rod continues, and through a cogwheel engaged to the rack. The penetration needle (figure 2) is made of stainless steel, cylinder-shaped, has a diameter of 1.00 to 1.02 mm and a total length of (50.8 0.1) mm. At one of its ends, the needle finishes in a cone of approximately 6.35 mm of height and of an angle of 840 to 940, the tip of which is cut so that it forms a circular surface of 0.14 to 0.16 mm of diameter. The needle is hardened and polished.

Fig. 2 Water bath or ultra-thermostat, of a minimal 10-liter capacity, with punctured plate, for laying the specimen. Capsule for determining the penetration, made of thermal-resistant metal or glass, cylinder-shaped, with a flat bottom of the following sizes: - diameter: 55 2 mm; - height: 35 2 mm. Thermometer scaled from 0 to 100 C, with 0.5 C divisions. Chronometer. Metallic container for bitumen melting. Wire-gauze screen nr. 071 STAS 1077-67. Crystallizer tank. Air bath.

PREPARING THE DETERMINATION

The specimen to be analyzed is heated on the air bath in a clean perfectly dry metallic container to a temperature 80 to 90 C, higher than the softening point, depending on its value, but not less than 125 C. The product is then passed through the wire-gauze screen to another metallic container, and is reheated under the same conditions. The heating continues with slight stirring, without producing air bubbles, until foam formation or bubble release can no longer be noticed at the surface of the liquid. The specimen thus prepared is poured into the capsule for determining the penetration, up to its upper edge. The specimen is left to chill for an hour, free of dust and air currents, at room temperature. The capsule is then submerged in the water bath, on the punctured plate, or in the ultra-thermostat, so that the height of the layer on top of the bitumen constantly be of a minimum 100 mm. The bath temperature must be (25 0.5) C, and the exposure time, 1 hour minimum.

PROCEDURE

The capsule with the specimen to be analyzed is sank in a water-filled crystallizer tank which had previously been kept in the water bath at (25 0.5) C. The height of the water layer on top of the bitumen level must be at least 10 mm, and the water temperature, (25 0.5) C. The crystallizer tank is set on the penetrometer disc, and the tip of needle is brought to the bitumen surface, arranging the exact position by the double image of the needle and its reflection in a mirror attached to the device in a convenient position. The pointer on the dial is set to the zero position. The switch buttons of chronometer and penetrometer are simultaneously pushed. After 5 seconds, the penetration of the needle is stopped by releasing the penetrometer button. The display of the dial is read, as it represents the penetration in tenths of millimeter.

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STAS 42-68

At least three penetrations are performed upon the specimen to be analyzed, at a minimum 10 mm distance one from the other and from the edge of the capsule. After each penetration, the crystallizer tank with the bitumen sample is submerged once again in the bath, while the needle is removed and cleaned of the bitumen traces by rubbing it towards the tip with a soft cloth damped in gasoline and then with dry cloth.

ADMITTED DIFFERENCES

The differences between the results of three parallel determinations shall be lower than those indicated in the table.
Value of penetration, in tenths of mm 0 to 25 26 to 150 151 to 200 201 to 300 Difference admitted between determinations, in tenths of mm max. 1 5 10 15

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