QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

4. SPOT TEST – determines if asphalt is over heated during

production
Apparatus: Florence flask, filter paper, pipette or buret,
balance, 25% xylene-heptane solution

a. Weigh 2 grams of the heated sample in a florence flask

 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

4. SPOT TEST – determines if asphalt is over heated during

production

b. Pour 10 ml of the solvent (25 % xylene – heptane solution) in

the florence flask
 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

4. SPOT TEST – determines if asphalt is over heated during

production

c. Swirl the flask to dissolve the sample with the aid of a boiling water bath.
The process is repeated until complete dispersion has taken place. Cool the
asphalt solvent mixture to room temperature for 30 min. then warm again
for 15 min in a water bath at 320C
 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

4. SPOT TEST – determines if asphalt is over heated during

production

c. A drop of warm mixture shall be placed on the filter paper. Examine the
drop after 5 min. if the drop forms a brown or yellowish brown circular
stain, with a darker solid or annular nucleus in the center, the tests shall be
reported as positive. But if the drop forms a uniformly brown circular stain,
repeat placing the drop on another filter paper the following day. And if it
forms the same uniformly brown circular stain, then report it as negative,
but if the drop forms a solid or annular nucleus report it as positive.
 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

5. FLASH POINT – indicates the safe heating temperature

of asphalt
Apparatus: Cleveland Open Cup, thermometer

a. Fill the cup with the heated sample

 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

5. FLASH POINT – indicates the safe heating temperature

of asphalt

b. Place the cup in the heater. Apply heat until the temperature of
the sample reaches at least 280C below the flash point
 QUALITY/PHYSICAL TEST OF ASPHALT CEMENT

5. FLASH POINT – indicates the safe heating temperature

of asphalt

Test
flame

c. Pass the test flame across the center of the cup. Record as the
observed flash point the temp. when a flash appears at any
point on the surface of the sample.