The Automatic Ring and Ball Tester allows fully automatic performance of softening point determination of binders conforming to most common international Standards. The softening point corresponds to the average temperature at which the two specimens soften enough to allow each ball, enveloped in binder, to fall 25mm, automatically detected by a calibrated light barrier. Two binder specimens, cast in shouldered brass rings, are heated at a controlled temperature rate in a water or glycerol bath while each supports a steel ball. 

Full Conformity

The tester saves the gradient and softening point results on the internal memory or onto a USB pen drive. You can export the temperature / time data in real-time to your PC or manage it with the optional PC software. The Automatic Ring and Ball Tester fully complies with the temperature heating rate, displaying in real time the gradient and its deviation from the theoretical one.

Improved Safety

The hotplate is fully sealed, so it cannot be damaged or affected by possible water or glycerol leakages, or if the beaker breaks. The front transparent cover reduces the risks coming from accidental water or glycerol spilling from the beaker. At the end of the test, the hotplate is automatically switched off and the integrated cooling fan enabled, improving the beaker cooling operations and reducing risks for the operator.

Standard Outfit

The apparatus is supplied complete with outfit for softening point of bituminous materials (two rings, two steel balls, two centering devices, support frame, 600ml beaker, PT100 probe, sample preparation plate and magnetic stirrer).

Main Features:

7’’ color touchscreen display, with multiple preset and custom testing procedures, allowing real time display of the temperature / time graph on display or PC (with optional software).

Inbuilt cooling fan, automatically enabled at the end of the test, to reduce the beaker cooling time.

Fully automatic softening point determination. The apparatus automatically applies the temperature gradient and detects the specimen position with light barriers, recording the softening point.  

PT100 probe holder and drip tray for specimen holder, complete with handle, improving beaker positioning operations.

Possibility to perform user-defined tests with maximum temperature up to 250°C.

Removable transparent front cover, protecting the operator from accidental hot water or glycerol splashing or accidental contact with the hot beaker and plate.

Technical Specifications:

Test places: 2

Temperature range: up to 250°C

Temperature probes:

PT100 probe, range -30 +350°C, 0.1°C resolution, ±0.2 °C accuracy

K thermocouple for hotplate monitoring range from 0°C to +1000°C, 0.1° resolution

Stirrer speed: from 0 to 200 rpm

Safety features:

Integrated cooling fan

Temperature warning icon

Removable front protection cover

Included PT100 probe holder and drip tray for specimen holder

Electronic controller specifications:

7” color capacitive touch screen graphical display, 16M color and 800 x 480 px resolution

Display of temperature/time graph in real-time, and softening point temperature of the two specimens

Possibility the set the language among 14 pre-set languages

Possibility to set up to 10 personalized test profiles

Possibility to program used custom tests with user defined end test conditions (up to 250°C) and temperature gradient up to 6°C/min.

Power supply: 110 V or 230 V, 50 Hz/60 Hz, 1600W

Dimensions: (W x D x H) 295 mm x 465 mm x 430 mm 

Weight: approx. 13.7 kg.