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0 DETERMINATION OF FLASH AND FIRE POINT TEST

INTRODUCTION TO HIGHWAY ENGINEERING PRATICAL

INTRODUCTION The properties of most importance in a road making aggregate are its
resistance to crushing, impact, abrasion and polishing, it s specific gravity and water absorption
and its grading and particle shape. As aggregate obtained from different sources differ
considerably in their constitution and properties, inevitably they differ also with their
engineering properties. It is necessary therefore, to carry out various tests on aggregates to ensure
not only that undesirable materials are excluded from highway pavements but also that the best
available aggregates are included. Also for bitumen and tars, the most careful specifications with
regard to the design and construction of a bituminous road surfacing are of little value if the
properties of the bituminous binder used in the design are not adequately controlled. To ensure
that the material obtained has the desired qualities, a number of tests have been devised which
attempts to measure various binder properties for particular reasons.

OBJECTIVE
To determine the flash and fire point of a given bituminous materials

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THEORY

Bituminous materials leave out volatiles at high temperatures depending upon their grade. These
volatile catch fire causing a flash. The flash point is the lowest temperature at which flash occurs
due to ignition of volatile vapours when a small flame is brought in contact with the vapours of a
bituminous product, gradually heated under standardized condition. When bituminious material
is further heated to a high temperature, the material itself catches and continues to burn, the
lowest temperature causing this is the fire point. This condition is very hazardous and it is
therefore essential to qualify this temperature for each bitumen grade.

Flash point: The flash point of a material is the lowest temperature at which the vapour of
substance momentarily takes fire in the form of a flash under specified condition of test.
Fire point: The fire point is the lowest temperature at which the material gets ignited and burns
under specified condition of test.

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 SAFETY AND HEALTH

Protective gloves

1. Suitable, comfortable and fit by hand.

Rules in the laboratory

1. Clothing :
Neat
Remove the tie @ enter in football fold long sleeves
Application of the aprons recommended.

2. Eyes protection :
Safety glasses
Face shield if my work can be dangerous to the eyes
Ensure adequate lighting for the avoidance of pain in the eyes.

3. Hand :
Wash your hand from dirty, oil before and after do a job.

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4. Respect for others :
Ready to help
Do not disturb and endanger other
Warning other disorderly.

5. Selection tools :
Select the appropriate size and type of my work
Use the tool in good condition
Repair damaged part and before using the tool

6. Handing equipment :
Point the cutting point if it bring down the sharp instrument.
Carry only a few tool to carry all equipment accept in special container.
Do not insert sharp instrument into the pocket

7. Clamping tools :
Use and appropriate wedges to hold the thing .ex: portable electricmachine.
Avoid hand-held object done.

8. Use of tools :
Hold the instrument truly recommended and direct point of cutting out your position
while using the tool.
Be careful what finger for drivind on the cut surfaces.

9. Speed of work :
Do not hurry while at work
Work planned at the speed of my true to produce satisfactory and high quality work

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OBJECT:

To determine the flash and fire point of bitumen

APPARATUS:
1. Thermometer 3. Heater

1. Claveland open cup 4. Flame tester

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PROCEDURE:

1. Cleaned up and dried thoroughly all part of cup

2. The material is filled in the cup up to a filling mark. The lid is placed to close the cup in a
closed system.

3. All accessories including thermometer of the specified range are suitably fixed.

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4. The bitumen sample is then heated.

5. The test flame is lit and adjusted in such a way that the size of a bleed is of 4mm diameter.

6. Stirring is done at regular intervals

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7. The test flame is lit and applied at intervals depending upon the expected flash and fire
points. First application is made at least 170C below the actual flash point and then at
every 10C to 30C. The stirring is discontinued during the application of the test flame.

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RESULTS:
The flash point is taken as the temperature read on the thermometer at the time of the flame
application that causes a bright flash in the interior of the cup in closed system. For open cup it is
the instance when flash appears first at any point on the surface of the material. The heating is
continued until the volatiles ignite and the material continues to burn for 5 seconds. The
temperature of the sample material when this occurs is recorded as the fire point.

Flash point of bitumen (C) 256

RECOMMENDED VALUES:
The flash point for all grades of bitumen materials is 1750C, minimum.

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CONCLUSION

From the laboratory test we did on the bitumen in Flash and Fire Point, the result we
obtained is, Flash temperature is 256oC, and the Fire Point temperature is 270oC. And comparing
to the recommended values is that the minimum value of flash point is 175oC for all grades of
bitumen. So, we can conclude that the bitumen we tested is suitable to be use for road
construction, because the Flash Point for our laboratory test is higher by 81 oC, not lower than
the recommended value by JRK Specification Value.

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REFERNCES

Internet

1. http://www.scribd.com/doc/50824065/36/FLASH-POINT-AND-FIRE-POINT
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/70794166/12/FLASH-AND-FIRE-POINT-TEST-BY-CLEAVE-
LAND-OPEN-CUP-APPARATUS

Lecture

1. Puan salma binti yahya

Book

1. Modul Engineering Highway CC302

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