This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles

for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

Designation: D6752/D6752M − 23

Standard Test Method for

Bulk Specific Gravity and Density of Compacted Asphalt
Mixtures Using Automatic Vacuum Sealing Method1
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6752/D6752M; the number immediately following the designation indicates the
year of original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last
reapproval. A superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.

1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents

1.1 This test method covers the determination of bulk 2.1 ASTM Standards:2
specific gravity of compacted asphalt mixtures by the vacuum C670 Practice for Preparing Precision and Bias Statements
sealing method. for Test Methods for Construction Materials
1.2 This method can be used for compacted cylindrical and D8 Terminology Relating to Materials for Roads and Pave-
cubical laboratory and field asphalt mixture specimens. ments
D2726/D2726M Test Method for Bulk Specific Gravity and
1.3 The bulk specific gravity of the compacted asphalt Density of Non-Absorptive Compacted Asphalt Mixtures
mixtures may be used in calculating the unit weight of the D3203/D3203M Test Method for Percent Air Voids in Com-
mixture. pacted Asphalt Mixtures
1.4 The values stated in either SI units or inch-pound units D3666 Specification for Minimum Requirements for Agen-

iTeh Standards
are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in cies Testing and Inspecting Road and Paving Materials
each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each D4753 Guide for Evaluating, Selecting, and Specifying Bal-
system shall be used independently of the other. Combining ances and Standard Masses for Use in Soil, Rock, and
(https://standards.iteh.ai)
values from the two systems may result in nonconformance
with the standard.
Construction Materials Testing
D5361/D5361M Practice for Sampling Compacted Asphalt

Document Preview
1.5 The text of this standard references notes and footnotes
which provide explanatory material. These notes and footnotes
Mixtures for Laboratory Testing
D7227/D7227M Practice for Rapid Drying of Compacted
(excluding those in tables and figures) shall not be considered Asphalt Mixture Specimens Using Vacuum Drying Appa-
as requirements of the standard. ratus
ASTM D6752/D6752M-23 2.2 AASHTO Standard:3
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/65466e1d-fa57-47e3-b012-09d14d17b97d/astm-d6752-d6752m-23
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the M 323 Standard Specification for Superpave Mix Design
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro- 3. Terminology
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. 3.1 For definitions of terms used in this standard, refer to
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor- Terminology D8.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard- 4. Significance and Use
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 4.1 The results obtained from this method can be used to
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical determine the unit weight of compacted asphalt mixtures, and
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. in conjunction with Test Method D3203/D3203M, to obtain

1 2
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D04 on Road For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
and Paving Materials and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D04.21 on contact ASTM Customer Service at [email protected]. For Annual Book of ASTM
Specific Gravity and Density of Asphalt Mixtures. Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2023. Published December 2023. Originally the ASTM website.
3
approved in 2002. Last previous edition approved in 2018 as D6752/D6752M – 18. Available from the American Association of State Highway Transportation
DOI: 10.1520/D6752_D6752M-23. Officials (AASHTO), 441 N. Capitol Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001.

Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States

1
 D6752/D6752M − 23
percent air voids. These values in turn may be used in using a temperature-controlled heater. Also, to reduce the chance for the
determining the relative degree of compaction. bag to touch the sides of the water tank, it is preferable to elevate the water
tank to a level at which the sample can be placed on the weighing
4.2 Since specific gravity has no units, it must be converted mechanism while standing up, and the placement of the sample and the
to density in order to do calculations that require units. This bag in the water tank can easily be inspected.
conversion is made by multiplying the specific gravity at a 5.3 Cushioned Holder, for water displacement of the
given temperature by the density of water at the same tempera- sample, having no sharp edges.
ture.
NOTE 4—To avoid accidental puncture of the plastic bags in the water
4.3 This method can be used for 100 mm [4 in.] and bath, plastic-coated cushioned holders have been found to work well for
150 mm [6 in.] diameter cylindrical as well as cubical asphalt this test method.
mixture specimens to correct for inconsistencies in sample 5.4 Vacuum Chamber, with a 0.93 kW [1.25 hp] pump,
weight determinations resulting from drainage of water from capable of evacuating a sealed and enclosed chamber to a
samples and inaccuracy in saturated surface dry weight of minimum pressure of 10 mm Hg [10 Torr] in less than 60 s
absorptive coarse and open-graded mixes. Asphalt mixes such when at sea level. The chamber shall be large enough to seal
as stone matrix asphalt (SMA), porous friction course, and samples of 150 mm [6 in.] wide by 350 mm [14 in.] long by
coarse-graded mixes with significant surface texture and inter- 150 mm [6 in.] thick. The device shall automatically seal the
connected voids can be tested with this method. Follow plastic bag and exhaust air back into the chamber in a
manufacturer recommendation for appropriate bag sizes to be controlled manner to ensure proper conformance of the plastic
utilized with cubical and abnormally shaped samples.4 to the asphalt specimen. The air exhaust and vacuum operation
NOTE 1—The quality of the results produced by this standard are time should be calibrated at the factory prior to initial use. The
dependent on the competence of the personnel performing the procedure air exhaust system should be calibrated to bring the chamber to
and the capability, calibration, and maintenance of the equipment used. atmospheric pressure in 80 to 120 s, after the completion of the
Agencies that meet the criteria of Specification D3666 are generally vacuum operation. The vacuum system should be provided
considered capable of competent and objective testing, sampling,
inspection, etc. Users of this standard are cautioned that compliance with
with a latch to control the chamber door opening.
Specification D3666 alone does not completely ensure reliable results. 5.5 Vacuum Measurement Gauge, independent of the
iTeh Standards
Reliable results depend on many factors; following the suggestions of
Specification D3666 or some similar acceptable guideline provides a
means of evaluating and controlling some of those factors.
vacuum sealing device that could be placed directly inside the
chamber, to verify vacuum performance and the chamber door

5. Apparatus (https://standards.iteh.ai) sealing condition of the unit. The gauge shall be capable of
reading 3 mm Hg [3 Torr] pressure.

Document Preview
5.1 Balance, with ample capacity, and with sufficient sensi- 5.6 Plastic Bags, used with the vacuum device, shall be one
tivity to enable bulk specific gravity of specimens to be of the two following sizes. The smaller bags shall have a
minimum opening of 235 mm [9.25 in.] and maximum opening
calculated to at least four significant figures, that is, to at least
three decimal places. It shall be equipped with a suitable of 267 mm [10.50 in.], and the larger bags shall have a
apparatus to permit weighing the specimenASTM while itD6752/D6752M-23
is sus- minimum of 368 mm [14.50 in.] and a maximum opening of
https://standards.iteh.ai/catalog/standards/sist/65466e1d-fa57-47e3-b012-09d14d17b97d/astm-d6752-d6752m-23
pended in water. The balance shall conform to Guide D4753 as 394 mm [15.5 in.]. The bags shall be of plastic material that
a class GP2 balance. will not adhere to asphalt film, is puncture resistant, is capable
of withstanding sample temperatures of up to 70 °C [158 °F],
NOTE 2—Since there are no more significant figures in the quotient
(bulk specific gravity) than appear in either the dividend (the mass of the
is impermeable to water, and contains no air channels for
specimen in air) or in the divisor (the volume of the specimen obtained evacuation of air from the bag. The bags shall have a minimum
from the difference in mass of the specimen in air and in water), this thickness of 0.102 mm [0.004 in.] and maximum thickness of
means that the balance must have a sensitivity capable of providing both 0.178 mm [0.007 in.]. The apparent specific gravity for the
mass and volume values to at least four figures. For example, a sensitivity bags shall be provided by the manufacturer. The apparent
of 0.1 g [0.00022 lb] would provide four significant figures for the
determination of a mass in the range from 130.0 to 999.9 g [0.29 to specific gravity provided for each size bag shall account for the
2.20 lb] when the specific gravity is 2.300. different sample weights and bag weight used during testing.
5.2 Water Bath, with minimum dimensions (length × width 5.7 Specimen Sliding Plate, used within the chamber for
× depth) of 610 by 460 by 460 mm [24 by 18 by 18 in.] or a reduction of friction on the plastic bags.
large cylindrical container, for completely submerging the 5.8 Bag-Cutting Knife, or scissors.
specimen in water while suspended, equipped with an overflow
outlet for maintaining a constant water level. 6. Sampling
NOTE 3—It is preferable to keep the water temperature constant by 6.1 Test specimens may be molded from laboratory-
prepared samples or taken from asphalt pavement in the field.
4
Field samples should be obtained in accordance with Practice
Bulk specific gravity determined by this method may be lower than the results
obtained by Test Method D2726/D2726M. As a result, air voids determined from
D5361/D5361M.
these bulk specific gravity values may be higher than the air voids values determined
using Test Method D2726/D2726M. These differences may be more pronounced for 7. Test Specimens
coarse aggregate mixtures. Users of this method are cautioned to evaluate any
alteration in percent asphalt content or aggregate gradations for mix designs with a 7.1 It is recommended (1) that the diameter of cylindrically
known positive performance history. molded or cored specimens, or the length of the sides of sawed