Designation:D3461−14StandardTestMethodforSofteningPointofAsphaltandPitch(MettlerCup-and-BallMethod)1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD3461;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope*1.1Thistestmethodcoversthedeterminationofthesoft-eningpointofasphaltandpitchintherangefrom50°Cto180°Cbythecup-and-ballapparatus,andgivesresultscom-parabletothoseobtainedbyTestMethodD36.NOTE1—IfthesofteningpointofasphaltbythisMettlercup-and-ballmethodfailstomeetspecifiedrequirements,testsmaybererunusingtheTestMethodD36(ring-and-ball)softeningpointapparatusasarefereemethod.1.2Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyconcerns,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2A314SpecificationforStainlessSteelBilletsandBarsforForgingD36TestMethodforSofteningPointofBitumen(Ring-and-BallApparatus)D140PracticeforSamplingBituminousMaterialsD4296PracticeforSamplingPitch3.SummaryofTestMethod3.1Inthistestmethodthesofteningpointisdefinedasthetemperatureatwhichthespecimen,suspendedinacylindricalcupwitha6.5mmholeinthebottomandwithaleadball,8mmindiameter,centeredontopofthesampleinthecup,flowsdownwardadistanceof19mmtointerruptalightbeam,asthesampleisheatedatalinearrateinair.4.SignificanceandUse4.1Asphaltandpitchdonotgothroughasolid-liquidphasechangewhenheated,andthereforedonothavetruemeltingpoints.Asthetemperatureisraised,theygraduallysoftenorbecomelessviscous.Forthisreason,thedeterminationofthesofteningpointmustbemadebyanarbitrary,butcloselydefined,methodifthetestvaluesaretobereproducible.4.2Thistestmethodisusefulindeterminingtheconsis-tencyasoneelementinestablishingtheuniformityofship-mentso...
