ASTM_D_3461_-_14.pdf

Designation:D346114Standard Test Method forSoftening Point of Asphalt and Pitch(Mettler Cup-and-BallMethod)1This standard is issued under the fixed designation D3461;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon()indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.1.Scope*1.1 This test method covers the determination of the soft-ening point of asphalt and pitch in the range from 50 C to180 C by the cup-and-ball apparatus,and gives results com-parable to those obtained by Test Method D36.NOTE1If the softening point of asphalt by this Mettler cup-and-ballmethod fails to meet specified requirements,tests may be rerun using theTest Method D36(ring-and-ball)softening point apparatus as a refereemethod.1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of thesafety concerns,if any,associated with its use.It is theresponsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.2.Referenced Documents2.1 ASTM Standards:2A314 Specification for Stainless Steel Billets and Bars forForgingD36 Test Method for Softening Point of Bitumen(Ring-and-Ball Apparatus)D140 Practice for Sampling Bituminous MaterialsD4296 Practice for Sampling Pitch3.Summary of Test Method3.1 In this test method the softening point is defined as thetemperature at which the specimen,suspended in a cylindricalcup with a 6.5 mm hole in the bottom and with a lead ball,8 mm in diameter,centered on top of the sample in the cup,flows downward a distance of 19 mm to interrupt a light beam,as the sample is heated at a linear rate in air.4.Significance and Use4.1 Asphalt and pitch do not go through a solid-liquid phasechange when heated,and therefore do not have true meltingpoints.As the temperature is raised,they gradually soften orbecome less viscous.For this reason,the determination of thesoftening point must be made by an arbitrary,but closelydefined,method if the test values are to be reproducible.4.2 This test method is useful in determining the consis-tency as one element in establishing the uniformity of ship-ments or sources of supply.5.Apparatus5.1 A METTLER TOLEDO dropping point cell3can beused to determine softening points by this test method.Thesecommercially available instruments consist of a control unitwith a digital temperature indicator with furnace built in orattached,sample cartridges,and accessories.The control unitautomatically regulates the heating rate of the furnace.Thesoftening point is indicated on the readout,and the heatingprogram stopped,when the sample flow triggers the softeningpoint detection.A general view of the components of theMETTLER TOLEDO softening point instrument is shown inFig.1(old instrument)and Fig.2(new instrument).5.1.1 Integrated or Separate Control UnitThe control unitshall provide a continuous,linear temperature increase from25 C to 250 C at a rate of 2 C/min.A digital readout shallindicate the temperature to 0.1 C throughout.5.1.2 Integrated or Separate Furnace UnitThe furnaceunit shall be capable of heating one or two sample cupassemblies,as described in 5.1.3,at a linear rate of 2 C 60.3 C min.It shall include a sensing system capable ofdetecting the softening point with a precision of 0.1 C.5.1.3 Sample Cup AssemblyA cup of chromium-platedbrass,or of aluminum,or of stainless steel conforming to therequirements for Type 303(UNS S30300)stainless steel as1This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D02 onPetroleum Products,Liquid Fuels,and Lubricantsand is the direct responsibility ofSubcommittee D02.05 on Properties of Fuels,Petroleum Coke and Carbon Material.Current edition approved Oct.1,2014.Published November 2014.Originallyapproved in 1976.Last previous edition approved in 2012 as D3461 97(2012).DOI:10.1520/D3461-14.2For referenced ASTM standards,visit the ASTM website,www.astm.org,orcontact ASTM Customer Service at serviceastm.org.For Annual Book of ASTMStandards volume information,refer to the standards Document Summary page onthe ASTM website.3The sole source of supply of the apparatus known to the committee at this timeis available from Mettler-Toledo,LLC.,1900 Polaris Pkwy,Columbus,OH 43240,.If you are aware of alternative suppliers,please provide thisinformation to ASTM International Headquarters.Your comments will receivecareful consideration at a meeting of the responsible technical committee,1whichyou may attend.*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standardCopyright ASTM International,100 Barr Harbor Drive,PO Box C700,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959.United States1 prescribed in Specification A314,with the dimensions shownin Fig.3.It shall be placed in the assembly so that the pitchsample softening point will be detected when it has floweddown a distance of 19 mm.