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 OPERATION MANUAL
‘ENKAY’ STANDARD TAR VISCOMETER

SCOPE

This standard covers the methods for the determination of viscosity of road tar and
cutback bitumen.

METHOD A (VISCOMETER FITTED WITH 10 MM CUP FOR ROAD TAR)

VISCOSITY

The property of a fluidity by which it resists flow due to internal friction and one of the
methods by which it is measured, is by determining the time taken by 50 CC of the
material to flow from a cup through a specified orifice under standard conditions of
Tests and specified temperature.

PROCEDURE

Adjust the Tar Viscometer so that the top of the tar cup is level. Heat the water in the
weater bath to the temperature specified for the test and maintain in within +/- 1 oC of
the specified temperature throughout its bulk for the duration of the test, the stirrer
being gently rotated at a frequent intervals or preferably continuously.

Clean the tar cup orifice of the Viscometer with a suitable solvent and dry thoroughly.

Warm and stir the material under examination to 20 oC above the temperature specified
for the test and cool, while continuing the stirring. When the temperature has failed to
rise slightly above the specified temperature, pour the tar into the tar cup until the
leveling peg on the valve rod is just immersed when the latter is vertical.

Pour into the graduated receiver 20 ml of mineral oil or a 1% by weight solution of soft
soap and place in under the orifice of the tar cup.

Place a second standard thermometer in the tar and stir the latter until the temperature is
within +/- 0.1oC of the specified temperature. When this temperature has been reached,
suspend the thermometer co-axially with the cup and with its bulb approximately at the
geometric center of the tar. Allow the assembled apparatus to stand for 5 minutes during
which period the thermometer reading shall remain within 0.05 oC of the specified
temperature. Remove the thermometer and quickly remove any excess of tar so that the
final level is on the center line of the leveling peg when the valve is in vertical position.
Suspend immediately the valve by means of the hemisphere at the upper end, in the
valve support which shall be brought immediately previously to its inner position. Start
the stop watch or a time recording device (Supply of Stop Watch or a Time Recording
Device is not in the scope of the supply order) when the reading in the cylinder is 25 ml
and stop it when it is 75 ml. Note the time in seconds.

REPORT
Report the time in seconds taken by 50 ml of the tar to flow out as the viscosity of the
sample. at the temperature specified for the test.

State clearlywhether the same was dried or tested as receivedas the presence of water,
particularly in quantities less than 1%, has a marked effect on the viscosity. Report the
method of drying adopted.

PRECISION
The results of repeat determinations on portions of the same sample shall fall within +/-
4% of the average of several readings.

PRECAUTIONS
The working of the range of instruments with the 10 mm cup is such that the time of
efflux shall be between 10 – 140 seconds.

The temperature of the test shall be appropriate to emulate the condition specified
above and shall be a multiple of 5oC, not lower than 20oC.

The tar cup is a critical part of the Viscometer and special precautions shall be taken in
its treatment and use. Any cleaning process shall be of gentle nature. Non-recording
solvents, such as light tar oils. free from phenols are recommended.

METHOD - B
VISCOMETER FITTED WITH 4 MM CUP FOR CUTBACK BITUMENS
The Tar Viscometer as specified in Method A above shall be used with one
modification, viz, that the 4 mm cup shall be fitted instead of the 10 mm cup.

The procedure shall be the same as detailed in Method A.

The user is therefore advised to follow the operating procedure as per the orifice of the
tar cup.