16-09-2024

The test procedure described in the document titled "Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test (RTFOT)" is aimed
at evaluating the effects of heat and air on asphalt binder. Below is a detailed explanation of the test
procedure and standards:
Purpose
The Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test (RTFOT) measures the effect of heat and air on a moving film of
semi-solid asphaltic materials. It simulates short-term aging that occurs during the hot-mix process.
Apparatus Required:
1. Oven: A double-walled, electrically heated convection oven, capable of maintaining a temperature

of 163°C ± 0.5°C. The oven must have specific venting, air circulation, and temperature control
features as outlined in the standard.
2. Glass Sample Containers: Clear, transparent, heat-resistant glass, specifically designed to hold
asphalt samples.
3. Circular Carriage: A rotating circular metal carriage designed to hold the glass sample containers
horizontally, rotating at 15 ± 0.2 rpm.
4. Flow Meter: Measures airflow at 4000 mL/min through the system.
5. Cooling Rack: Stainless steel or aluminum rack to cool the sample containers in a horizontal
position.
Procedure:
1. Sample Preparation:
- Heat the asphalt sample in a container to a temperature not exceeding 150°C to ensure it is
completely fluid.
- Pour 35 ± 0.5 g of the fluid sample into each glass container.
2. Pre-Coating the Containers:
- Immediately after pouring, tilt the container horizontally and rotate it slowly to coat the interior
walls of the container with the asphalt sample.
3. Cooling:
- Place the containers in a cooling rack and allow them to cool for a minimum of 60 minutes but
not more than 180 minutes.
4. Loading and Conditioning in the Oven:
- Preheat the oven for a minimum of 4 hours to reach 163°C ± 0.5°C.
- Load the glass containers onto the rotating carriage, ensuring the carriage is balanced.
- Maintain airflow at 4000 mL/min and ensure the samples rotate continuously for **85
minutes**.
5. Post-Test Procedures:
- After the test period, remove the samples, place them on the cooling rack, and allow them to cool
for 60-180 minutes.
- For mass change determination, weigh the sample containers before and after the test to
calculate the percentage of mass lost or gained due to evaporation or oxidation.
6. Mass Change Calculation:
The mass change can be calculated using the formula:
\[ \text{Mass Change (\%)} = \left( \frac{B - A}{A - C} \times 100 \right) + F \]
where:
- \( A \) = Mass of binder + container before conditioning
- \( B \) = Mass of binder + container after conditioning
- \( C \) = Mass of empty container
- \( F \) = Mass change correction factor based on the laboratory's elevation.
Elevation-Based Adjustment:
The conditioning time needs to be adjusted based on the elevation of the laboratory, with an
increase of 1 minute for every additional 305 meters (1000 feet) of elevation above 2134 meters
(7000 feet).
Reporting:
1. Report the change in physical properties of the asphalt due to the conditioning process.
2. If mass change is determined, report it as a percentage of the original mass, specifying whether
there was a mass loss (negative) or mass gain (positive).
This method, as outlined in ASTM D2872-22, helps simulate the aging of asphalt during the
production process and is used to predict the material’s performance during its service life.
The document titled "Accelerated Aging of Asphalt Binder Using a Pressurized Aging Vessel (PAV)"
describes a test method for simulating the long-term aging of asphalt binder. Here is a detailed
explanation of the test procedure based on ASTM D6521-22 standards.
Objective:
This test simulates the oxidative aging that occurs in asphalt binders during in-service conditions by
using a pressurized aging vessel (PAV). The test is generally performed on residues obtained from
the Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test (RTFOT), simulating long-term aging during pavement service.
Apparatus Required:
1. Pressure Vessel: A stainless steel pressure vessel that operates at 2.1 MPa (gauge pressure) and
maintains a temperature between 90-110°C. It should have enough space to hold 10 PAV pans.
2. Stainless Steel Pans: Each pan has a diameter of 140 mm and a depth of 9.5 mm, used for
spreading asphalt binder into a thin film.
3. Oven: A forced-draft oven or integrated heating system capable of restoring and maintaining the
temperature in the pressure vessel at the conditioning temperature within ±0.5°C.
4. Pressure and Temperature Controlling Devices: For accurate control and monitoring of pressure
(±0.02 MPa) and temperature (±0.5°C).
5. Vacuum System and Oven: For vacuum degassing of the aged asphalt residue, maintaining an
absolute pressure of 15 kPa and temperature up to 170°C.
Test Procedure:
1. Sample Preparation:
- The asphalt binder is first conditioned using RTFOT (ASTM D2872). The hot residue from RTFOT is
combined and stirred to ensure uniformity.
- The asphalt residue is poured into **stainless steel pans**, each containing **50 ± 0.5 g** of
asphalt, resulting in a film thickness of approximately 3.2 mm.
2. Preheating and Loading:
- Preheat the pressure vessel to the selected conditioning temperature, usually determined based
on regional climatic conditions.
- Load the pans with asphalt residue into a pan holder, then insert the holder into the pressure
vessel.
3. Pressurization:
- After loading the vessel, pressurize it to **2.1 MPa ± 0.1 MPa** using compressed air.
- Begin the conditioning run by maintaining the temperature and pressure inside the vessel for
**20 hours ± 10 minutes**.
4. Pressure Release:
- At the end of the conditioning period, slowly release the pressure over **8 to 15 minutes** to
prevent excessive bubbling or foaming of the asphalt binder.
5. Vacuum Degassing (Optional but recommended):

- After conditioning, place the pans with asphalt residue into a preheated oven at **170 ± 5°C**
for 15 minutes.
- Transfer the heated residue to a vacuum oven and apply a vacuum at **15 kPa absolute
pressure** for **30 minutes**.
6. Testing of Aged Residue:
- Once the asphalt is degassed, the aged residue is either tested immediately or stored for future
testing under specific conditions.
Reporting:
The final report includes:
- Sample identification.
- Conditioning temperature to the nearest 0.5°C.
- Results from any tests performed on the aged residue (such as viscosity, ductility, etc.).
Notes:
- This procedure is used to estimate the physical properties of the asphalt binder after several years
of in-service aging, but it does not account for all in-service conditions.
This test provides critical insights into the long-term performance of asphalt binders and is a key step
in evaluating their durability and resistance to aging under various service conditions.

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16-09-2024

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The test procedure described in the document titled "Rolling Thin-Film Oven Test (RTFOT)" is aimed

1. Oven: A double-walled, electrically heated convection oven, capable of maintaining a temperature

4. Flow Meter: Measures airflow at 4000 mL/min through the system.

- Pour 35 ± 0.5 g of the fluid sample into each glass container.

2. Pre-Coating the Containers:

4. Loading and Conditioning in the Oven:

- Preheat the oven for a minimum of 4 hours to reach 163°C ± 0.5°C.

6. Mass Change Calculation:

The mass change can be calculated using the formula:

\[ \text{Mass Change (\%)} = \left( \frac{B - A}{A - C} \times 100 \right) + F \]

- \( A \) = Mass of binder + container before conditioning

- \( B \) = Mass of binder + container after conditioning

- \( C \) = Mass of empty container

- \( F \) = Mass change correction factor based on the laboratory's elevation.

2. Preheating and Loading:

5. Vacuum Degassing (Optional but recommended):

6. Testing of Aged Residue:

The final report includes:

- Conditioning temperature to the nearest 0.5°C.

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