To ensure the quality of bitumen several tests are performed which are as follows.

1. Ductility test
2. Flash and Fire point test
3. Float test
4. Loss on heating test
5. Penetration test
6. Softening point test
7. Specific gravity test
8. Viscosity test
9. Water content test

10. 1. Ductility Tests on Bitumen

The property of bitumen which allows it to undergo deformation or elongation is called ductility
of bitumen. The ductility of bitumen is measured by the distance in Cm (centimeter), to which
the bitumen sample will elongate before breaking when it is pulled by standard specimen at
specified speed and temperature. Firstly the bitumen sample is heated to 75-100oC and melted
completely. This is poured into the assembled mold which is placed on brass plate. To prevent
sticking the mold and plate are coated with glycerin and dextrin. After filling the mold, placed it
in room temperature for 30-40 minutes and then placed it in water for 30 minutes.

11. Then take it out and cut the excess amount of bitumen with the help of hot knife and level
the surface. Then place the whole assembly in water bath of ductility machine for 85 to
95 minutes. Then detach the brass plate and the hooks of mold are fixed to machine and
operate the machine.
12. The machine pulls the two clips of the mold horizontally and then bitumen elongates. The
distance up to the point of breaking from the starting point is noted as ductility value of
bitumen. The minimum value should be 75cm.

13.
 2. Flash and Fire Point Tests on Bitumen

Flash point of bitumen is defined as the point of lowest temperature at which bitumen catches
vapors of test flame and fires in the form of flash. Fire point of bitumen is defined as the point of
lowest temperature at which the bitumen ignites and burns at least for 5 second under specific
conditions of test.

Flash and fire point test helps to control fire accidents in bitumen coated areas. By this test we
can decide the bitumen grade with respect to temperature for particular areas of high
temperatures.
3. Float Tests on Bitumen

Float test is used to determine the consistency of bitumen. But we generally use penetration test
and viscosity test to find out the consistency of bitumen except for certain range of consistencies.
The float test apparatus consists of aluminum float and brass collars as shown in below figure.

These collars are filled with melted bitumen sample and cooled to 5oC and then attached them
into aluminum floats and this assembly is placed in water bath at a temperature of 50oC. Note
down the time in seconds from the instant the float is put on the water bath until the water breaks
the material and enters the float.

4. Loss on Heating Tests on Bitumen

Then place the sample in oven and heat it for 5 hours at 163oC. After that take out the sample
and cooled it to room temperature and take the weight to 0.01gm accuracy and note down the
value. Then for the two values of weight before and after heating we can compute the loss of
mass. The loss should be less than 5% of total weight otherwise it is not preferred for
construction.

5. Penetration Test on Bitumen

The penetration value of bitumen is measured by distance in tenths of mm that a standard needle
would penetrate vertically into bitumen sample under standard conditions of test. By this test we
can determine the hardness or softness value of bitumen.

In this test, firstly heat the bitumen above its softening point and pour it into a container of depth
attest 15mm. bitumen should be stirred wisely to remove air bubbles. Then cool it to room
temperature for 90 minutes and then placed it in water bath for 90 minutes.

Then place the container in penetration machine adjust the needle to make contact with surface
of sample. Make dial reading zero and release the needle for exactly 5 seconds and note down
the penetration value of needle for that 5 seconds. Just repeat the procedure thrice and note down
the average value.
6. Softening Point Test on Bitumen

Softening point of bitumen indicates the point at which bitumen attains a particular degree of
softening under specified conditions of the test. Take small amount of bitumen sample and heat it
up to 75-100oC. Ring and ball apparatus is used to conduct this test. Heat the rings and apply
glycerin to prevent from sticking. Fill this rings with bitumen and remove the excess material
with hot sharp knife.

Assemble the apparatus parts, balls are arranged in guided position that is on the top of bitumen
sample. And fill the beaker with boiled distilled water. Then apply temperature @ 5oC per
minute. At certain temperature bitumen softens and ball slowly move downwards and touches
the bottom plate, this point is noted as softening point.
7. Specific Gravity Test on Bitumen

Specific gravity of bitumen is the ration of mass of given volume of bitumen to the mass of equal
volume of water at specified temperature. Specific gravity is the good indicator of quality of
binder. It can be determined by pycnometer method.

In this method, take clean and dry specific gravity bottle and take its weight(w1).in the 2nd case,
fill the bottle with distilled water and dip it in water bath for 30 minutes and note down the
weight(w2). Next, fill half the bottle with bitumen sample and weigh (w3).

Finally fill the bottle with half water and half portion with bitumen and weigh (w4). Now we can
find out specific gravity from the formulae.
8. Viscosity Test on Bitumen

Viscosity is the property of bitumen which influences the ability of bitumen to spread, penetrate
into the voids and also coat the aggregates. That is it influences the fluid property of bitumen. If
viscosity of bitumen is higher, compactive effort of bitumen reduces and heterogeneous mixture
arises.

If viscosity is lower, then it will lubricate the aggregate particles. Viscosity is determined by
using tar viscometer. The viscosity of bitumen is expressed in seconds is the time required for
the 50 ml bitumen sample to pass through the orifice of a cup, under standard conditions of test
and at specified temperature.

9. Water Content Test on Bitumen

When bitumen is heated above the boiling point of water, sometimes foaming of bitumen occurs.
To prevent this bitumen should have minimum water content in it. Water content in bitumen is
determined by dean and stark method. In this method, the bitumen sample is kept in 500ml heat
resistant glass container.

Container is heated to just above the boiling point of water. The evaporated water is condensed
and collected. This collected water is expressed in terms of mass percentage of sample. It should
not more than 0.2% by weight.