Florida Studies with the Puzinauskas Field Viscosity Cup for Asphalt Cements

An ASTM base chart is shown in the paper to confirm the linearity of the temperature-viscosity relation for five different asphalts over the temperature range of 60 C (140 F) to 195 C (383 F). These data were run in the laboratory using the procedures in ASTM methods D 2170 and D 2171. All data were corrected to poises for plotting, using densities calculated at the test temperatures.

The viscosity temperature characteristics for different grades of asphalt from several producers are shown in separate charts. Kinematic viscosities, as measured with the Puzinauskas-Asphalt Institute (P-AI) field cup, in the laboratory, are superimposed on these charts to illustrate the agreement of the (P-AI) data with carefully controlled data from ASTM Methods D 2170 and D 2171.

Field data at actual construction sites were compared with check data rerun on the field samples in the laboratory for agreement. It was found that for field tests it is necessary for the cup and the asphalt cement in the cup to be at the test temperature read on the thermometer. With experienced technicians, the field tests readily agree with laboratory data.