Patent ID: 6054323
Filing Date: 2000-04-25
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
In a method for assaying the asphalt content of a bituminous paving mix wherein a sample of s bituminous paving mix containing aggregate and a combustible asphalt binder is heated, the combustible asphalt binder is combusted, and the weight loss resulting from combustion of the asphalt binder is measured to determine the amount of asphalt binder originally present in the sample, the improvement which comprises directing radiation into the sample from an infrared heater which emits radiation at an infrared wavelength and heating the asphalt binder in said sample by radiation heat transfer from said infrared heater until said binder reaches its flash point temperature and ignites, and continuing to heat the ignited binder in said sample by radiation heat transfer from said infrared heater while combusting the asphalt binder present in said sample and effluent gases discharged therefrom.