What Troxler Does

Troxler provides a full range of radiological services to support users of radioactive material and radiation producing devices in industrial, governmental, medical, and educational settings. These services include:

Nuclear Moisture/Density Gauges
The Troxler Models 3430 and 3440 RoadReader™ nuclear moisture/density gauges measure the density and moisture of soil, aggregate, concrete and asphalt materials in the field for quality control purposes. These gauges offer two test modes; the direct transmission mode allows the source to be lowered below the surface in order to test a larger area of material and improve gauge precision. In backscatter mode the source is positioned near the surface of the test material and the top four inches of material are penetrated by gamma rays. Moisture content of the material is also tested in a manner similar to the backscatter mode. The Model 3440 provides advanced software, an automatic depth indicator and many special functions and features in order to achieve the highest level of operator convenience.

The Troxler RoadReader Plus, Model 3450, offers the unprecedented combination of surface moisture and density measurements with thin layer density determination in a single nuclear gauge. In addition the 3450 provides a host of technical improvements and innovations ensuring easier operation, greater reliability, and improved performance. To the testing laboratory that works mostly on soils with only occasional asphalt work, the RoadReader Plus offers a significant opportunity for expanded measurements. For municipalities or counties verifying overlays, trench fills, and reworks, the 3450 is a workhorse that addresses the full range of operational requirements. And for the DOT or large operator with a full range of needs, the 3450 offers tremendous flexibility in a single, easy to use gauge.
 
The Troxler Thin Layer Density Gauge, Model 4640, features patented technology to measure the density of thin asphalt and concrete layers from 2.5 to 10 cm (1 to 4 inches) without influence from underlying material. This model and the Model 3450 are the only nuclear gauges on the market capable of this method of density testing. After programming the target Marshall and/or Voidless density into the gauge memory, the user need only enter the top layer thickness, place the source rod in the measure position and press the START/ENTER key. This gauge is a must have for paving contractors and others who have the need to monitor asphalt compaction regularly.

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Gyratory Compactors
Troxler Gyratory Compactors produce gyratory asphalt specimens that predict long-term pavement performance. Through their testing, the United States Strategic Highway Research Program (SHRP) developed Superpave™, a program for analyzing asphalt materials and designing hot mix asphalt. The program is a system for specifying and testing component materials, designing asphalt mixtures, testing mixes, and predicting pavement performance.

The Troxler Gyratory Compactor is an integral part of the mix design and testing phases of Superpave. The Gyratory Compactor compacts the asphalt mixture with a fixed pressure while gyrating the mold at a fixed angle. The height of the specimen is continually monitored, providing information on the density of the mix throughout the compaction cycle. This information is recorded and can be sent to a computer or printed.

Troxler manufactures two models of Gyratory Compactors, the models 4140B and 4141. The model 4140 has an adjustable range of angle from 0.5° to 2.0° and adjustable pressure from 200 KPa to 1000 kPa, and the model 4141 has a set angle of 1.25°and set pressure of 600 kPa. 4141 is a smaller unit and is generally desirable for mobile or smaller labs.

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Asphalt Ignition Ovens
The quality of asphalt pavement is typically characterized by two very important factors - the asphalt binder content and the gradation of the aggregates. In the early 1990s the National Center for Asphalt Technology (NCAT) developed a method of separating the binder from the aggregates by igniting a sample of the mixture, which caused the binder to burn away leaving the aggregate.

Troxler Model 4730/4731 NTO is an ignition oven that uses infrared as the source of heating. This allows the mixture to ignite quicker, and the chamber temperature to be greatly reduced compared to the first generation of ignition furnaces. Using infrared heaters also decreases the amount of electrical power required, as compared to conventional ignition furnaces. The NTO may be powered by either a 120 VAC or a 208/240 VAC 15 Ampere supply.

In the ignition process, the mixture is heated until combustion of the binder is achieved. The NTO provides an advanced burn process that removes the binder more efficiently than conventional ignition furnaces or chemical methods. The loss in sample weight is directly related to the binder content. After the burn is complete, the aggregates are removed from the oven and allowed to cool for subsequent gradation analysis.

Troxler manufactures two models of NTO ovens. Model 4730 (120 V) and model 4731 (208/240 V).