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Flash & Fire Point Test of Bitumen

This document provides instructions for determining the flash point and fire point of a bitumen sample. It details the equipment, materials, procedures, safety precautions, and expected results for this test of bitumen to ensure it can be safely heated without igniting. The test involves slowly heating a bitumen sample in a closed cup while periodically exposing it to a small flame to identify the flash point and temperature at which it sustains burning.

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Dakshraj Rathod
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128 views8 pages

Flash & Fire Point Test of Bitumen

This document provides instructions for determining the flash point and fire point of a bitumen sample. It details the equipment, materials, procedures, safety precautions, and expected results for this test of bitumen to ensure it can be safely heated without igniting. The test involves slowly heating a bitumen sample in a closed cup while periodically exposing it to a small flame to identify the flash point and temperature at which it sustains burning.

Uploaded by

Dakshraj Rathod
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

FLASH & FIRE POINT TEST OF BITUMEN


AIM: To determine the flash point and fire point of bitumen
sample.
INTRODUCTION
Flash and fire point test of bitumen sample is one of the important tests of
bitumen to be conducted before road construction. It measures the
temperature at which the material is at risk of catching fire. The
temperature at which the vapour of the bituminous material catches an
instant fire or the material burns for some seconds is different for different
types and grades of bitumen binders. Bituminous materials are primarily
hydrocarbons and hence at high temperatures, they release various volatile
materials. These liberated volatile compounds catch fire with a flash. And
this can prove hazardous. Bitumen is heated for its application as bitumen
binder for road pavements. While dealing with hot bitumen during the
processes like heating, mixing, or application, the temperature should be
kept well below the critical temperatures determined by flash and fire point.
OBJECTIVE
Flash and Fire Point Test of Bitumen is used to determine the safe
temperature up to which bitumen sample can be exposed.

THEORY
Flash point: It is the lowest temperature whose application causes the
vapour of the bituminous material to catch an instant fire in a flash form in
specified conditions.

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 1


LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

Fire point: It is the lowest temperature whose application causes the


binder material to ignite for at least 5 seconds in specified conditions.

APARATUS
a) Pensky Martens Tester: It is the testing machine for flash and fire point
test of bitumen.
Closed Cup Tester: It is made up of brass and its inside diameter is
slightly larger above the filling mark. The outside surface of the cup is
tapered above the flange. The flange also has devices for receiving the
lid of the cup and the cup too when kept in the stove. A handle is also
fixed to the cup flange permanently. The wall thickness at the upper
edge is not less than 1 mm. Flange width = 12 mm approx Flange
thickness = 3mm
Open Cup Tester: In this tester, the cover of the cup is replaced by a clip
that encircles the upper rim of the cup. It also has provision for test
flame and thermometer.
b) Cover proper: It is made up of brass. Its rim projects almost to the flange
of the cup and closely fits the outside of the cup. A proper locating
device is present on the cover that engages with the corresponding
locating device on the flange of the cup. Thickness of cover measured
from just inside the rim is in-between 0.8-2 mm.
c) Shutter: It is made up of brass and it is attached to the lid. It operates on
the plane of the upper surface of the lid. Its shape and mounting are so
decided that it rotates on the horizontal axis of the centre of the lid.
When it is placed in an extreme position, openings A, B, and C of the lid
are closed completely. When it is placed in the other extreme position,
openings A, B, and C of the lid are opened completely.
By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 2
LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

d) Flame exposure device: It has a tip with 0.7-.8 mm diameter opening. It


also has an operating mechanism which depresses the tip when the
shutter is open. A pilot frame is also provided that helps in relighting of
the exposure flame automatically. A 4 mm diameter bead is also placed
on the lid to regulate the size of the test flame. The shutter operating
mechanism is of spring-type and constructed in such a way that
openings A, B, and C are closed when it is at rest.
e) Heating device with temperature regulator:
f) Thermometer: Its range should be from -7 – +110 °C with a least count
of 0.5 °C.
g) Other accessory apparatus used in flash and fire point test include:
 Ignition source device
 Air bath

Pensky Martens Apparatus Beaker for preheating


Bitumen

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 3


LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

MATERIALS
 Bituminous material
 Solvent for cleaning

PROCEDURE
1. All the parts of the cup and its
accessories are cleaned thoroughly
with the help of a solvent and
allowed to dry

2. The bitumen sample is heated in

a beaker at 75-100 °C- above the

softening point of bitumen till it is

completely melted into a fluid

3. Melted bitumen is poured into the

mould

4. The cup is filled with the molten

bitumen till the filling mark

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 4


LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

5. The lid is placed on the cup to


close it
The locking device of cup and lid
should be engaged

6. The cup along with the lid is placed


on the stove

7. Thermometer is inserted and the


test flame is so adjusted that its size
is similar to a bead of about 4 mm

8. The rate of application of heat is


controlled to 5-6 °C per minute

9. The stirrer is rotated at the rate of


60 rev/min

10. As the temperature reaches 17


below the expected flash point, the
test flame is applied
At the time of application of test
flame, stirring is discontinued

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 5


LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

11. The test flame is applied at every


reading of the temperature up to 104
°C in the multiples of 1 °C.
When the temperature exceeds 104
°C, the test is carried out at an
interval of 2 °C

12. The temperature at which a


distinct flash is observed at the
interior of the cup is noted down as
flash point

13. The heating is continued further


and the test flame is continued to be
applied at an interval of 1 °C

14. The temperature at which the


flame is observed to be ignited for at
least 5 seconds at the interior of the
cup is noted down as fire point

15. Repeat the experiment for 2 more


times and the average of the three
readings should be taken as Flash
point and Fire point of the given
sample.
By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 6
LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

OBSERVATION TABLE
Test 1 Test 2 Test 3

The temperature at which


the first distinct flash is
observed- Flash point in
°C
The temperature at which
the material is ignited for at
least 5 seconds- Fire point
in °C
Average Value of Flash point of Sample – 1, 2 & 3

= ______________
Average Value of Fire point of Sample – 1, 2 & 3

= ______________
Precautions during Flash & Fire point Test

Following precautions should be taken while performing the flash and fire
point test of bitumen to obtain accurate results:
 Size of the test flame and the frequency of the application of test
flame should be adhered to, else the surface layer may be
superheated.
 The bluish flame surrounding the test flame should not be confused
with the true flame.
 The traces of solvent used for cleaning the apparatus should be
removed completely

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 7


LAB MANUAL BASICS OF TRANSPORTATION ENGINEERING (3340603)

 The locating devices of the cup and the lid should be engaged
properly
DISCUSSION
Flash point and fire point gives a measure of the critical temperatures
beyond which the bitumen should not be exposed to. Thus, these critical
temperatures help in preventing a hazardous situation.
For any type of Bitumen grade Minimum Flash point value should be =
175oC Minimum Fire point value should be = 175oC + 5oC.
LIMITS
The average of the flash point and fire point values to the obtained from the
three tests are the flash point and fire point values of the given bitumen
specimen respectively.
 For close cup tester, the value of flash point carried out for three
times should not differ by more than ± 2 °C for temperature below or
equal to 104 °C. And for temperature beyond 104 °C, the tolerance
value is increased to ± 5.5°C.
 For open cup tester, the values of both the flash and fire point carried
out for three times should not differ by more than ± 8 °C.
Flash and fire point of the bitumen specimen is dependent on the grade of
the bitumen.

CONCLUSION
Based on the experiment performed, the average flash and fire point value
is ___________________and_______________. So this type of bitumen
sample is within/not permissible limits.

Date Performed: Sign of Teacher


Marks:
R1 R2 R3 Total

By – S. K. SHETH, LCE Page 8

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