Research Ductilometer for Force Ductility Test for Asphalt Binder Testing

The ductility test is performed to determine the ductility of bituminous materials by measuring the elongation before breaking when two ends of briquette specimens are pulled apart at a specified speed and temperature.

Water bath

Insulated stainless steel water bath with a heating system located over the entire base surface and a stainless steel cooling coil (for connection to water mains or chiller) distributed over the three side walls assuring temperature uniformity without water turbulence inside the bath. All parts in contact with water are made of stainless steel.

Carriage displacement

Double-screw rods and mobile carriage enable test speeds from 3 to 200 mm/min. The system also permits the fast return of the carriage at the end of the test (500 mm/min) to reduce dead time and increase productivity. The carriage return is automatic, manual intervention is not required.

Temperature control

• A closed-loop PID system assures constant temperature from -10 to +60°C, with a water chiller (see accessories)
• Stainless steel cooling coil
• Plate-type base heaters give better temperature uniformity
• The thermoregulation system is based on control of the heater (which increases the temperature of the bath) and the control of the flow rate of the cooling coil by an electro-valve. This important feature assures control of the temperature within strict limits and permits the use of suitable standard water chillers.

Load and elongation measurement

Automatic measurement of the elongation by an encoder. Includes a system for measuring forces up to 2000 N (4 x 500 N) with load cells (see accessories).

Testing software

• Selection of test parameters (speed, temperature etx.) by PC. The test temperature, however, can be set in advance using the control panel of the machine.
• Test control by PC: Start-Stop-Carriage return
• Specimen failure recognition
• Real-time display of load/elongation graph with advanced visualization options (single or multi-graph)
• Data acquisition and processing conforming to Standards
• Function for multiple test data comparison
• Storage of test data

Machine control

By PC (not included)

Water cooling

This model is proposed without a chiller for use with a suitable cooling system that could be available in the laboratory. It is important, however, that this unit is capable of delivering a flow rate of 6 litres/min, 1 bar, at the minimum temperature of 2°C.

See-through cover

Essential for better temperature control of the bath.