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Density measurement of bitumen paves the road to success
The composition of bitumen is sometimes crucial, for example when it comes to paving roads. Being an asphalt constituent, bitumen considerably defines the characteristics of the road surfacing: providing stability in the summer without changing the texture, and avoiding frost heaves in the winter.
Determining the density of bitumen is considered a suitable method to characterize whether the bitumen sample meets the requirements for the designated use. The standard test method asks for a pycnometer to be partially filled with the heated bitumen sample without the sample touching the sides of the pycnometer above the sample’s filling level, followed by completely filling the pycnometer with water and using the determined weights to calculate the sample’s density. This procedure is not only time-consuming and cumbersome, but also requires a lot of practice and skill. In addition, the achieved precision is moderate.
It is therefore no wonder that the need arose for a faster and easier method that is not dependent on the skill of the operator. The solution is the DMA HP density meter from Anton Paar (Austria). In combination with the DMA 4100/4500/5000 M evaluation unit, this instrument is especially suitable for samples with a high melting point. It can be used at temperatures as high as +200 °C, which allows the samples to remain liquid inside the measuring chamber. Together with the high-precision U-tube measuring technique, the high-temperature applicability makes it an indispensable tool for the density determination of bitumen and related materials.
An optional accessory is available to fill and empty the measuring cell: the External Heating Block. It keeps the tubing that leads in and out of the measuring cell at an elevated temperature. This not only allows simple filling and removal of the sample after the measurement, but also avoids changes of the sample volume with temperature changes.
The DMA HP density meter requires only low sample volumes and ensures safe working conditions for the operator. It is a reliable instrument to determine the density of bitumen samples quickly, effortlessly and with high precision. The optional accessory External heating Block allows easy and safe filling and removal of the sample.