EN 13589 Force Ductility Test for Bituminous Materials | UnitedTest Force‑Ductility Tester

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EN 13589 Force Ductility Tester | Polymer Modified Bitumen Tensile Test | UnitedTest

EN 13589 specifies the force ductility method to test tensile properties and cohesion energy of polymer modified bitumen (PmB) and bituminous binders. UnitedTest manufactures EN 13589 compliant force ductility testing machines for road bitumen quality control.

EN 13589 is a European standard dedicated to bitumen and bituminous binder testing, specializing in determining the tensile mechanical properties of modified bitumen via the professional force ductility test method. This standard focuses primarily on polymer-modified bitumen (PmB), a widely used high-performance road construction material, delivering accurate and actionable performance data for asphalt material evaluation.

The EN 13589 test method works by recording the real-time force-elongation response of bituminous binder specimens during continuous stretching. It effectively evaluates the comprehensive tensile performance and cohesive structural properties of modified bitumen materials. Additionally, the standard calculates cohesion energy as a core quality evaluation indicator, which intuitively reflects the material’s ductility stability, bonding performance and anti-cracking capacity under mechanical tension.

Force ductility testing per EN 13589 is essential for verifying modified bitumen formulation quality, checking batch production consistency, and qualifying road paving materials for highway and municipal engineering projects. UnitedTest designs and manufactures high-precision EN 13589 force ductility testing machines. Our professional test equipment accurately captures force and elongation data, calculates bitumen cohesion energy automatically, and fully meets laboratory research, industrial quality inspection and third-party material certification requirements.

Test Principle

A moulded, symmetrically shaped block specimen is extended in a ductilometer at a constant speed and controlled temperature until it fractures or reaches at least 1333 % elongation (0,400 m displacement).

Deformation energy Eᵢ = area under the recorded force vs. elongation curve (definite integral of force over elongation), bounded by the elongation axis, the curve, and a vertical line at the chosen elongation or at the breaking point.
Cohesion energy E*ᵢ = Eᵢ ÷ initial cross‑section of the specimen (cm²) → expressed in J/cm².
The reported value (Annex A, normative) is the difference between two points:
E*₀,₂₋₀,₄ = E*b − E*a, where a = 0,200 m elongation (specimen length 230 mm) and b = 0,400 m elongation (specimen length 430 mm).

In practice the standard mould gives a 10,0 mm × 10,0 mm cross‑section = 1,00 cm², so E* is numerically equal to the deformation energy in joules.

Test Specimens

Shape	Symmetrical block ("dog‑bone" style ends)
Overall length A	36,5 ± 2,0 mm
Effective length B (reference length)	30,0 ± 0,1 mm → 0,400 m = 1 333 %; 0,200 m = 667 %
Width C	20,0 ± 0,2 mm
Neck / side dimensions	D ≥ 5,5 mm; W = 10,0 ± 0,1 mm; F = 7,3 ± 0,1 mm; R = 15,5 ± 0,1 mm
Thickness	10,0 ± 0,1 mm
Initial cross‑section	10,0 × 10,0 mm = 1,00 cm²
Clips	inner radius 15,5 ± 0,1 mm; opening width 20,0 ± 0,2 mm; inner length 22,8 ± 0,2 mm
Number of specimens	at least three, prepared and tested together

EN 13589 Force Ductility Test for Bituminous Materials test equipment required:

Universal Tensile Testing Machine (Ductilometer)	Traction device: constant stretching speed (50 ± 2.5) mm/min; force measurement range 1 N‑300 N, accuracy ±0.1 N; elongation measurement 1 mm‑≥450 mm, accuracy ±1 mm. Gripping fixtures shall avoid local stress concentration causing premature tearing. Temperature‑controlled water bath: temperature accuracy ±0.5 °C. For test temperatures ≤0 °C, add 15 % mass ethanol or glycerol to water bath liquid.
Recording device	Simultaneously records tensile force and specimen elongation.
Specimen mould assembly	Metal symmetric mould (4‑part: two side halves + two clips), metal base plate, knurled screw, sliding pins. Mould critical dimensions: narrow test section width 10.0 mm, thickness 10.0 mm, clip inner radius 15.5±0.1mm/min, opening width 20.0±0.2mm/min
Auxiliary tools	heated trimming knife, release agent (dextrin‑glycerine mixture or silicone‑based release agent).

Test Parameters and stipulation:

Stretching speed
Standard test temperature	; other temperatures permitted for special binders
Target maximum elongation	1 333 % (0.400 m)
Pre‑conditioning in water bath	at test temperature
Maximum allowed time from sample preparation to test	≤4 h
Elongation interval for cohesion‑energy calculation	0.200 m (667 %) to 0.400 m (1 333 %)

Moulding: coat base plate and inner side walls with release agent; assemble three moulds on the base plate and clamp with the knurled screw; fill the slightly heated moulds immediately using a back‑and‑forward motion along the mould axis until a convex meniscus forms (to avoid air traps). After curing 1,5 ± 0,5 h at room temperature, cut off surplus binder with a hot knife and reject any specimen showing defects.

Procedure: after the 90 ± 10 min conditioning, remove the specimen from the base plate, mount it on the traction plates, remove the mould sides, then stretch while recording force vs. elongation.

Rounding: values < 1,0 J/cm² → nearest 0,01 J/cm²; values ≥ 1,0 J/cm² → nearest 0,1 J/cm². If the specimen breaks before 0,400 m, report E* together with the elongation at break and the test temperature.

Detailed Test Procedures of EN 13589 Force Ductility Test for Bituminous Materials

Sample & mould preparation: Assemble metal moulds on metal base plate, coat inner surfaces with release agent. Prepare bitumen sample according to EN 12594. Pour slightly heated bitumen into moulds with longitudinal reciprocating motion to avoid air voids until convex meniscus forms. Prepare three specimens simultaneously.
Room‑temperature curing: Keep moulded specimens 1.5±0.5 h at ambient temperature; trim excess binder with hot knife; reject flawed specimens.
Thermal conditioning: Place assembled mould‑specimen units in temperature‑controlled water bath for 90±10min. Ensure total elapsed time from casting to test ≤4 h.
Mounting: Remove mould assembly from base plate, fit specimen clips to ductilometer traction plates, remove side mould parts.
Stretching test: Run test at constant speed 50±2.5mm/min, maintain bath temperature within ±5°C. Continuously record tensile force vs elongation until specimen breaks or reaches 0.400 m elongation.
Calculation: Compute deformation energy from force‑elongation curve (integral or trapezoidal summation formula). Divide deformation energy by initial cross‑section area to obtain cohesion energy. Calculate cohesion‑energy difference between 0.400 m and 0.200 m elongation.
Acceptance of replicates: Check difference among three parallel results against repeatability limit r. If exceeded, run three extra replicates. If new replicates meet repeatability requirement, adopt them; otherwise average all six results and report result range.

Industry / Application Fields

Road paving binders: specification and QC/acceptance of polymer‑modified bitumens (the cohesion‑energy criteria feed into the PmB specification framework, EN 14023), plus hard and soft paving grades.
Binder production & R&D: comparing polymer type, dosage and network quality; formulation development.
Ageing studies: unaged, RTFOT/RTFOT+PAV‑aged, and recovered/residual binders (from emulsions or cut‑backs, via EN 13074‑1/‑2 or EN 1431) — cohesion energy typically rises with oxidative hardening and falls as test temperature rises.
Waterproofing / roofing and sealing materials (the same ICS 91.100.50 binder family).

Related Standard:

AASHTO T51	Practically identical test method for asphalt ductility, adopted by North‑American highway transportation agencies.
ASTM D5	Penetration test of bituminous materials (routine companion binder test).
ASTM D113	Standard Test Method for Ductility of Asphalt Materials
ASTM D2872	Rolling Thin‑Film Oven Test (RTFO) for short‑term thermal‑oxidative ageing of asphalt, supplies aged‑residue samples for D113 ductility measurement.
ASTM D1754	Thin‑Film Oven Test (TFOT) for asphalt ageing.
GB/T 4508	Test method for ductility of asphalt
GOST 32056	Bituminous materials. Method for determination of ductility
AS 2341.11	Determination of ductility of bitumen
EN 13587	Tensile test method for bituminous binders (separate tensile test, no continuous force‑elongation recording for energy calculation);
EN 13588	Pendulum cohesion test for bituminous binders (different physical principle for cohesion measurement);
EN 13589	Bitumen and bituminous binders. Determination of the tensile properties of modified bitumen by the force ductility method

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Q1: What is EN 13589 force‑ductility test, and why is this test important?

A: EN 13589:2018 is the European standard for force‑ductility testing of bituminous binders, mainly for polymer‑modified bitumen (PmB). Unlike conventional ductility which only measures elongation‑at‑break, force‑ductility records both tensile force and elongation, calculating cohesion energy (J/cm²) – the energy the binder absorbs under tensile stretching. It evaluates low‑temperature toughness, anti‑cracking capacity and internal cohesion of modified bitumen. Poor cohesion energy indicates high risk of thermal cracking for asphalt pavements in cold seasons. This test acts as key specification criterion for European polymer‑modified bitumen certification and quality control.

Q2: What sample types can be tested under EN 13589?

A: It covers unaged bitumen, aged bitumen, residual bitumen, and recovered bituminous binders (from bitumen emulsion, cut‑back bitumen). Polymer‑modified bitumen (PmB) is the primary target material. Sampling follows EN 58, sample preparation follows EN 12594

Q3: What if specimen breaks before reaching 400 mm elongation?

A: Record breaking elongation value together with cohesion‑energy result on test report. But only data reaching full 400 mm elongation can be used for official specification compliance evaluation. If premature break occurs caused by mould defect, air bubble or bad adhesion with clips, discard this specimen and retest.

Q4: Why do my lab get high result scatter for EN 13589 test? Common error sources?

A: Main influencing factors:

Water‑bath temperature drift beyond ±0.5 °C (temperature is highly critical for bitumen).

Insufficient 90 min thermal conditioning or exceeding 4‑hour limit after casting specimens.

Air bubbles inside specimens, improper release‑agent usage, specimen damage during demoulding.

Incorrect stretching speed; force sensor out‑of‑calibration.

Premature tearing at specimen clips (local stress concentration). Reject such invalid samples.

Q5. How is it different from conventional ductility (ASTM D113 / AASHTO T51)?

A: Conventional ductility only records how far the thread stretches. Force ductility also records the force, so it gives the energy/work the binder absorbs — which is what separates a PmB from a neat binder of identical penetration/softening point.

Q6. Why 667 % and 1 333 %?

A; Effective length is 30.0 mm → 0.200 m = 667 %; 0.400 m = 1 333 %. The window sits after the initial peak, so it captures the cohesive strength of the drawn polymer network.

Q7: Why choose UnitedTest EN 13589 Force‑Ductility Tester, Bitumen Force Ductilometer?

A: UnitedTest EN 13589 Force Ductility Tester is fully compliant with EN 13589:2018 standard, for polymer‑modified bitumen tensile property & cohesion‑energy testing. Automatic force‑elongation curve recording and cohesion‑energy calculation, ideal for road‑material labs, bitumen refineries and research institutes.

UnitedTest force‑ductility testing machine is professional laboratory equipment designed and manufactured to fully meet EN 13589:2018 European standard, for determining tensile properties and cohesion energy of polymer‑modified bitumen, aged bitumen, recovered and residual bituminous binders.

Force‑ductility test (EN 13589) has become an essential test for evaluating low‑temperature anti‑cracking performance of modified bitumen in European road construction. Different from ordinary ductility testers, our machine synchronously captures tensile force and elongation data, plots real‑time force‑elongation curves, and automatically computes deformation energy and cohesion‑energy values as required by EN 13589:2018, avoiding manual calculation errors.

Core Machine Features

✅ Complies fully with EN 13589:2018, also compatible with EN 13398 elastic‑recovery test

✅ High‑precision load‑cell: force measuring range 1 N‑300 N, accuracy ±0.1 N

✅ Constant stretching speed: 50 ±2.5 mm/min; elongation resolution ±1 mm, max travel ≥450 mm

✅ High‑precision thermostatic water‑bath, temperature accuracy ±0.5 °C; supports low‑temperature bath solution for tests down to 0 °C and below

✅ Industrial control & dedicated testing software: auto record force‑elongation curve, auto calculate cohesion‑energy difference (Eb‑Ea), data storage, export test report matching EN 13589 reporting requirements

✅ Accepts standard symmetrical metal specimen moulds per EN 13589 Figure 1; supports 3‑specimen parallel testing

✅ Built‑in result validation check for repeatability limit as per standard clause 9

Typical Application Scenarios

Bitumen manufacturing factory quality‑control laboratory
Highway & road‑construction material testing institutes
University & R&D lab for asphalt‑binder research
Third‑party inspection laboratories for European‑standard bitumen certification
Testing unaged / aged / recovered polymer‑modified bitumen (PmB)

UnitedTest is a reliable manufacturer for bitumen & asphalt laboratory instruments. Our EN 13589 force‑ductility tester helps your lab run compliant force‑ductility tests, get repeatable, audit‑ready test data for polymer‑modified bitumen quality assessment. Contact UnitedTest for specification sheet, quotation and customised solution.

We offer customization to meet your specific needs. Our expert team will collaborate with you to develop the perfect product for you