Ring & Ball Softening Point Apparatus
Motorised ring-and-ball apparatus for determining the softening point of bitumen per IS 1205.
NABL TC-14144·
ISO/IEC 17025:2017·
Lab ID NKM/EQ-28
The Ring & Ball Apparatus determines the softening point of bitumen — the temperature at which it becomes soft enough for a standard steel ball to sink through a disc of the binder held in a ring. Softening point indicates a binder's resistance to flow at high service temperatures, per IS 1205.
What this equipment tests
- Softening point of paving and industrial bitumen
- High-temperature susceptibility of binder
- Grade verification alongside penetration
Applicable Indian Standards
- IS 1205 — Determination of softening point of bitumen
- IS 73 — Paving bitumen — specification
Related NABL testing services
Frequently asked questions
What is the softening point?
It is the temperature at which bitumen softens enough to let a standard ball pass through — a measure of its resistance to flow in hot weather.
Which standard is used?
IS 1205, using the ring-and-ball method.