The TE-BBR achieves temperatures from ambient to -36°C using the latest in Peltier technology. Bath fluid, which does not circulate outside the TE-BBR, is cooled by solid-state cooling modules surrounding the bath. Heat is dissipated from the hot side of the thermoelectric modules by circulating a mixture of water and antifreeze through an Air/Water Heat Exchanger (not shown in photograph). This arrangement facilitates rapid cooling and eliminates costly and potentially hazardous refrigerants.

The TE-BBR is capable of controlling temperature within 0.03°C, a precision far exceeding the requirements of current flexural creep test methodology for asphalt binders. The instrument measures specimen beam deflection to within 0.155 microns (1550 Angstroms) and force to within 0.147 milliNewton (0.015 gram). The TE-BBR will measure specimen beam loads from 0 to 450 grams.

Data acquisition is accomplished internally with information transferred to a host computer via a standard RS-232 interface. The TE-BBR software for Windows® permits computer-controlled temperature selection and graphic and numeric output of test data. The operational firmware is upgradeable - updates or changes may be downloaded via the computer. The current software includes extensive reporting of load variances throughout the test period and more detailed verification procedures with 2-gram weights.

The TE-BBR controls air pressure with four pneumatic pressure regulators, permitting the operator to adjust main input line pressure, air bearing pressure, and pressure supporting the loading shaft for a "Zero” condition and a "Load" condition.

A magnetic stirring bar at the bottom of the bath vessel circulates bath fluid to ensure uniform temperature distribution throughout the bath. The speed of the stirring bar rotation is adjustable.

Computer not included. An IBM-compatible computer with a pentium processor and Windows 95/98/NT/XP, SVGA or better monitor, CD-ROM drive, 32 MB RAM, a serial port, and a hard disk with 200 megabytes available disk space is required.