⛽ Elastic recovery of bituminous binders in a ductilometer at the test temperature (usually 25 °C or 10 °C) — the specimen is stretched into a thread to 200 mm, cut into two halves, and the distance between their ends is measured after 30 min, result in percent, PN-EN 13398

Petrochemistry PN-EN 13398

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full (our translation): "This European Standard specifies a method for determining the elastic recovery of bituminous binders using a ductilometer at the test temperature (usually 25 °C or 10 °C, but another temperature may also be used). This method is particularly useful for bituminous binders modified with thermoplastic elastomers, but it can also be used for testing other bituminous binders with low elastic recovery. WARNING — The use of this European Standard may involve hazardous materials, equipment and operations. This European Standard does not purport to address all of the safety problems associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this European Standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and to determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use." We have the BSI preview of BS EN 13398:2017 (national foreword, EN title page, European foreword) and the preview of the tracked-changes version against BS EN 13398:2010 (up to definition 3.3).

ACCORDING TO THE 2017 EDITION (forewords, table of contents, Clauses 1–3). EN 13398:2017 was prepared by CEN/TC 336 "Bituminous binders" (secretariat AFNOR); CEN approved it on 15 October 2017; it replaced EN 13398:2010. Changes from the 2010 edition: the erroneous reference to ISO 5725 for rounding was deleted (Clauses 2 and 9); the principle (Clause 4) mentions the possibility of other measuring conditions; in 5.1 and in the bibliography the reference to ASTM D113 was deleted; in 6.3 the maximum preheating temperature of the moulds was linked to the softening point (ring and ball) of the sample or — if it is not known — to 70 °C; the former Clause 11 "other test conditions" was moved into Clause 4; several test methods were added to the bibliography. The earlier 2010 edition changed three things compared with 2003: the test temperature no longer has to be 25 °C; the dimensions of the specimen and its conditioning were harmonised with EN 13589; the formula for the recovery was expressed in terms of the elongation L, which makes it possible to determine the recovery also when the thread breaks prematurely (e.g. due to brittleness). Normative references: EN 58 (sampling), EN 1427 (softening point — ring and ball), EN 12594 (preparation of test samples), EN 13589 (tensile properties by the force ductility method). Definitions: bitumen thread — a specimen of moulded bitumen stretched into a thread (3.1); half-threads — the two pieces obtained after stretching the specimen by 200 mm and cutting it in the middle (3.2); elastic recovery RE — the distance between the ends of the half-threads that is established 30 min after cutting, expressed as a percentage of the elongation, usually 200 mm (3.3). Table of contents: apparatus — specimen moulding equipment, water bath, stretching device, scissors; preparation (moulds, filling and conditioning, checking the bath temperature); procedure, calculation, expression of results, precision (repeatability and reproducibility), test report.

STATUS (state of the card on 30 September 2026). The card of PN-EN 13398:2017-12 (Polish version) has no "Withdrawn" header — the standard is CURRENT: published 23-11-2018, 12 pages, price group F, Chemistry Sector, KT 222/PK 2 for Bitumens, ICS 75.140 and 91.100.50, "Introduces: EN 13398:2017 [IDT]", "Replaces: PN-EN 13398:2012 - Polish version". PKN search for "PN-EN 13398" (30 September 2026): the 2017-12 edition in the Polish and English versions without labels and a chain of withdrawn editions — 2005 (EN) replaced by 2009 (PL), that by 2010 (EN), that by 2012 (PL), and that by 2017-12.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation-scope database, data loaded up to 17 September 2026, read on 30 September 2026). 10 records at 10 laboratories — the same number of cells in the current PCA documents. The notation "PN-EN 13398:2017-12" — 8 laboratories (AB 422, AB 474, AB 484, AB 1414, AB 1483, AB 1484, AB 1486, AB 1529), without a year — AB 937 and AB 1269. The "Laboratories" tab looks for notations that BEGIN with "PN-EN 13398" and will show all 10 laboratories — checked with the tab's query on the production server labcoda.pl on 30 September 2026: 10. Current scopes on the PCA website (read on 30 September 2026, issues from 16.12.2025 to 09.09.2026): the entries with this standard are not suspended (AB 484 has another part of its scope suspended).

QUANTITY, ITEMS AND RANGE. Elastic recovery — 9 laboratories, elastic recovery of modified bitumens — AB 937. Items: bitumens and bituminous binders — 6 laboratories, modified bitumens — AB 422 and AB 1269, road and industrial bitumens and bituminous products (in the group "other petroleum products") — AB 474 and AB 484. Range: from 0 % to 100 % (AB 422), from 15 % to 98 % (AB 484), from 40 % to 100 % (AB 474); technique — method in a ductilometer (AB 422) or ductilometric (AB 474, AB 484); the other seven entries give no range and no technique.

ALONGSIDE THIS STANDARD. No other document stands in any of these entries, and the copy has no entry for the elastic recovery of bitumens without this standard. Needle penetration according to PN-EN 1426 and the ring and ball softening point according to PN-EN 1427 (the temperature of the moulds depends on it) have separate entries in the Knowledge Base.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — temperature: the standard allows testing at 25 °C, 10 °C or another temperature — a recovery without the test temperature stated is not comparable. Second — time: the distance between the half-threads is measured 30 min after cutting; an earlier or later reading gives a different result. Third — elongation: the recovery refers to the elongation, usually 200 mm; if the thread breaks prematurely the formula with the elongation L makes it possible to give a result, but this must be stated. Fourth — moulds: since 2017 the preheating temperature of the moulds depends on the softening point of the sample (or is 70 °C if it is not known) — overheating changes the sample. Fifth — items: the method is intended in particular for bitumens modified with thermoplastic elastomers; unmodified bitumens have low recovery and a result close to the lower limit.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. The previews end with the definitions: we do not give the requirements for the apparatus (dimensions of the moulds, the bath, the stretching speed), the course of preparation and testing, the formula for the calculation, precision data or the requirements for the report.

Method principle

A specimen of binder moulded in a mould and conditioned in a water bath is stretched in a ductilometer at the test temperature (usually 25 °C or 10 °C) into a thread — usually by 200 mm — and cut in the middle. The elastic recovery RE is the distance between the ends of the half-threads established 30 min after cutting, expressed as a percentage of the elongation. Dimensions, speed and formula are NOT GIVEN — the previews end with the definitions.

Applications

• Bitumens and bituminous binders, especially those modified with thermoplastic elastomers — in the scopes of 10 laboratories
• Road and industrial bitumens and bituminous products (AB 474, AB 484)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-EN 13398:2017-12 (wersja polska; EN 13398:2017 IDT)

Title (PL)

Asfalty i lepiszcza asfaltowe — Oznaczanie nawrotu sprężystego asfaltów modyfikowanych

Title (EN)

Bitumen and bituminous binders — Determination of the elastic recovery of modified bitumen

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sample

   The standard refers to EN 58 (sampling) and EN 12594 (preparation of test samples); filling the moulds and conditioning — Clause 6, NOT GIVEN. PN-EN 13398:2017-12 current (state of the card on 30 September 2026).

2. Stretching

   In a ductilometer at the test temperature (usually 25 °C or 10 °C) to the elongation, usually 200 mm.

3. Cutting and reading

   Cut the thread in the middle; after 30 min measure the distance between the ends of the half-threads.

4. Result

   Elastic recovery in percent of the elongation; if the thread breaks — according to the formula with the elongation L (formula NOT GIVEN).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• The use of the standard may involve hazardous materials, equipment and operations — the user is responsible for health and safety regulations (warning of the standard); hot bitumen when filling the moulds
• SUBSTANTIVE NOTE: a result without the test temperature and the elongation is not comparable; reading exactly 30 min after cutting

Frequently asked questions