Introduction
A penetrometer is an instrument used to measure the penetration of a material, which is the depth to which a standardized cone, needle, or other probe penetrates the material under specified conditions, and it is used for testing the consistency, hardness, and firmness of materials such as asphalt, bitumen, lubricating greases, petroleum products, foods, soils, and cosmetics. In operation, a standardized probe, such as a cone or needle with a specified mass, is released from a specified height and allowed to penetrate the sample for a specified time, typically 5 seconds, under controlled temperature conditions; the depth of penetration is measured in tenths of a millimeter and is reported as the penetration value, and the measurement is performed according to standardized methods, such as ASTM D5 for bitumen and ASTM D217 for greases. The penetration value is an important property: for bitumen and asphalt, it indicates the hardness and grade of the material, which affects its performance in road construction; for greases, it indicates the consistency and workability; for foods, such as butter and cheese, it indicates firmness and texture; and for soils, it indicates compaction and strength. Penetrometers are used in the petroleum and road construction industries for testing bitumen and asphalt; in the lubricant industry for testing greases; in the food industry for texture testing; in cosmetics for testing creams and ointments; in the pharmaceutical industry for testing ointments and suppositories; and in geotechnical and agricultural testing for soils, and they are available as manual and automatic instruments, with features such as digital displays, timing devices, and temperature control. With their versatility, penetrometers are essential instruments for consistency and hardness testing.
Penetrometer LMPT-T2013
Penetrometer is a fully automatic unit for determining needle penetration of highway bitumen, modified asphalt, as well as liquid petroleum asphalt or residue of emulsified asphalt after...
Penetrometer LMPT-T2010
Penetrometer is a six grade softening unit for determining needle penetration of bituminous mixture and cone penetration of lubricating grease with control time. It has digital display w...
Penetrometer LMPT-T2011
Penetrometer is a temperature controlled unit for determining penetration of pavement petroleum asphalt, modified asphalt, liquid petroleum asphalt and emulsified asphalt. It has digital...
Penetrometer LMPT-T2012
Penetrometer is a two grade low temperature controlled unit for determining penetration of pavement petroleum asphalt, modified asphalt, liquid petroleum asphalt and emulsified asphalt w...
Standards
ISO 2137:2019-Petroleum products and lubricants-Determination of cone penetration of lubricating greases
ASTM D217-Standard Test Methods for Cone Penetration of Lubricating Grease
Complies with the above standards, but is not limited to them.
Features
1. Penetrometer for measuring consistency of bitumen, grease, food and materials by needle penetration.
2. Standardized needle or cone penetration under controlled load and time.
3. Suitable for bitumen, asphalt, lubricating grease, food, cosmetics and material testing.
4. Includes penetration needle/cone, sample cup, timing device, measuring scale and manual.
5. Determines hardness/consistency through standardized penetration depth measurement.
FAQ
Q1: What testing scenarios is this penetrometer mainly applied to?
A: The penetrometer is used in bitumen and asphalt testing, lubricating grease manufacturing, food processing, cosmetics, pharmaceutical, construction and research laboratories to measure the consistency, hardness or softness of semisolid materials by measuring the depth of penetration of a standardized needle or cone under specified load, time and temperature. It supports bitumen and asphalt penetration grading for road construction, lubricating grease consistency classification (NLGI grades), food product texture and consistency testing (butter, margarine, cheese), cosmetic cream and lotion hardness evaluation, pharmaceutical ointment consistency, and wax and polish hardness testing. The standardized penetration test provides a simple, reproducible measure of material consistency. It is essential for bitumen, grease, food, cosmetic and materials laboratories requiring consistency measurement for product specification, quality control, classification, formulation development and regulatory compliance, where penetration depth is a standardized indicator of material hardness, softness or consistency affecting product performance, handling, application and classification in bitumen road construction, lubricating grease NLGI grading, food texture, cosmetic quality and industrial material testing per ISO, ASTM and industry specifications.
Q2: What standards does the penetrometer comply with?
A: The penetrometer follows ASTM D5 for bitumen penetration, ISO 2137 for petroleum products and lubricating grease, ASTM D217 for grease, ISO 13765 for bitumen, and relevant GB/T standards including GB/T 4509 for bitumen. The needle/cone dimensions, load and time follow the standard specification. The instrument complies with relevant laboratory safety standards. Penetration depth measurement should be verified for accuracy.
Q3: What is the warranty period for the whole machine and key components?
A: The whole penetrometer is covered by a 12-month warranty. The needle/cone assembly, timing mechanism, measuring scale and frame are covered, while needles, cones, sample cups and fuses are consumables or accessories. Damage from improper use, dropping or unauthorized repair is excluded.
Q4: Is this device difficult to operate? Is professional training required?
A: Operation requires trained laboratory personnel familiar with penetration test methods and sample preparation. We provide operation manuals, training and application support. Proper sample preparation, temperature conditioning, needle/cone selection, test procedure and result reading are important for accurate penetration results.
Q5: What is the typical lead-time for order delivery?
A: Standard models require 7-30 working days. In-stock units can ship within 3-7 working days. Custom configurations or large built-to-order systems may require additional time, and we confirm the exact schedule before order confirmation.
Q6: Is regular calibration required? What is the recommended calibration cycle?
A: Penetration depth measurement calibration recommended every 6-12 months. Needle/cone dimensions and weight verified per standard. Timer accuracy checked periodically. Sample cup dimensions verified. Full apparatus verification recommended for accredited laboratories. Routine cleaning of needle/cone after each use.
Q7: Are supporting consumables universal?
A: Needles, cones, sample cups and calibration weights are available from laboratory suppliers, though dimensions should match the standard method. Long-term consumable cost is low.
Q8: Can I customize parameters or supporting accessories?
A: Customization includes automation level (manual, semi-automatic, digital), needle/cone type, timer, measuring system and data output. Additional needles, cones, sample cups and accessories can be ordered separately. Custom orders extend delivery lead-time.
Q9: Does the purchase include on-site installation and commissioning service?
A: Standard delivery includes the penetrometer and accessories with an operation manual. On-site installation, calibration and training are not included for standard orders but can be arranged for quality control laboratory setup. Remote guidance is provided.
Q10: What types of samples are compatible with this equipment?
A: The penetrometer measures consistency of bitumen, asphalt, lubricating grease, food products (butter, margarine, cheese), cosmetics (creams, lotions), waxes, polishes and other semisolid materials within the penetration range and method specification. Different materials require specific needles or cones, loads, times and temperatures per the applicable standard. Samples should be properly prepared and conditioned at the specified test temperature. Users should select the appropriate needle/cone and test parameters for the material, condition samples at the standard temperature, ensure proper sample surface preparation, follow the standard test procedure including release mechanism and timing, read penetration depth accurately, and report results with complete test conditions including needle/cone type, load, time, temperature and penetration depth in tenths of a millimeter (for bitumen) or millimeters (for grease). The test should be performed in a temperature-controlled environment or bath for accurate, reproducible results.
Tips: For more details, quotes and customized solutions, please contact us anytime. We’re always ready to serve you professionally.