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Double-walled electrically heated convection oven for rolling thin film oven tests on asphalts. Incorporates all required features per ASTM specifications, including: door with double-pane viewing window; symmetrical top and bottom vents; air plenum; squirrel cage-type 1725 rpm fan; digital indicating thermostat to control oven temperature at 163°C ±0.5°C; vertical circular carriage to mechanically rotate the samples at 15±0.2 rpm; air jets to blow heated air into each sample bottle at its lowest point of travel; and a calibrated flowmeter to control air flow at 4000 mL/min. An over-temperature cut-off circuit disconnects power to the unit in the event of control failure.

The Omnitek BitU-Visc is a programmable, fully automatic kinematic viscometer specially designed to handle highly viscous samples at high temperatures. The system can process samples with viscosities ranging up to 120,000 mm2/s, up to 150 C.

There are 2 different models available: BitU-Visc 110 features a single thermostatic bath with 1 viscometer tube whereas the BitU-Visc 120 model holds 2 viscometer tubes in a single bath. All BitU-Visc instruments are equipped with auto-sampling, preheating, fully automatic dual solvent cleaning and drying.

The viscometer tubes are based on the well-known and proven Ubbelohde design. Using specially designed thermal sensors, these tubes allow the detection of fully opaque fluids without any problems or limitations and eliminate the need to use reverse flow tubes. The standard configuration offers viscosity measurement up to 150 C and sample preheating up to 200 C.

Sophisticated temperature control ensures that measurements are carried out well within the required temperature stability. The system features an innovative single position auto-sampling which provides integrated heating of the sample up to 200 C and uses preheated solvent to effectively clean the viscometer tube. The BitU-Visc is fitted with specially designed duplo viscometer tubes for unstable samples such as vacuum residues, additives, crude oils, waxes, heavy fuels oils, polymers, asphalts, etc., which typically show poor determinability when sampled repeatedly. These tubes have 2 measuring sections with an approximately similar tube constant. This allows for an actual duplo determination while only sampling once.

The BitU-Visc requires a PC (not included) for full operation and can be controlled through an advanced PC software application but it can also be controlled as a stand-alone unit through the responsive color touchscreen interface with a storage up to 10,000 measurement results. The PC software allows the operator to specify optimized and fully customizable test methods for each individual sample. For data collection, storage, calculations, and reporting, an advanced PC application is provided with the instrument, which can gather data from up to 4 instruments simultaneously.

The BitU-Visc utilizes advanced and easy to use multilingual software. One PC can control multiple systems (1 COM-port required for each instrument). Data can be exchanged with a LIMS via RS232 or via wireless. The instrument can be operated in its entirety through the PC interface. Sample ID’s can be loaded and sample queues can be started, halted or temporarily suspended. Results are automatically stored in the internal database and also can be stored on any external drive or network folder.

During a run, several kinds of information are shown like measured flow times (average and corrected), percent difference, viscosity result, bath temperature, set temperature, preheater temperature, sample ID, test method, measuring section and last results. Also, actual status like filling, cleaning, etc., is shown for every unit involved. Measured flow times are presented in left or right column, depending on whether the upper or lower measuring bulb is used for testing.

The Pressure Aging Vessel (PAV) is used to simulate in-service oxidative aging of asphalt binder according to procedures developed by the Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP). The K88100 is fully compliant with the most recent ASTM and AASHTO standards for these tests. The complete PAV system consists of an ASME-code stainless steel pressure vessel in a stainless steel cabinet with encased band heaters, a precision sample holder for simultaneous testing of ten specimens, a set of ten TFOT specimen trays, a pressure controller, temperature controller, pressure and temperature measurement devices, temperature recorder, and a specimen loading and unloading tool. The K88100 PAV takes the hassle out of running and documenting asphalt binder aging operations. Three easy, non-complicated steps produce accurate and reliable results. Just press the “heat” button, insert specimens when prompted and press the “Age” button and let the PAV do the rest. Custom status screens guide the user step-by-step through the entire process. Each display screen (preheat start-up, preheat ready, aging heat up, aging pressurized, and aging complete) is simple and direct, with detailed process and status information. The final output screen, when the test is complete, shows the current vessel pressure, as well as minimum and maximum temperatures achieved during the test procedure. Process data (temperature and pressure) is continually stored at regular intervals in the programmable logic controller (PLC) that controls and monitors the process. The K88100 features a compact, bench-top design with integral pressure vessel. Its rotating vessel lid with rounded support block provides easy opening and closing. A built-in timer accumulates and records out-of-range time (out-of-range time for the PAV is typically less than 10 minutes during a 20-hour test). Minimum and maximum temperature data is recorded and is displayed at the end of each test.