7 Uses of Asphalt that You didn’t Know

Asphalt is a mixture of aggregates, binder and filler which is used in the construction and maintenance of all kinds of roads sport areas, parking areas etc. To create an asphalt mixture, aggregates such as crushed rock, sand, gravel or slags are crushed and mixed together using a binder to form a cohesive mixture. This mixture can be used to construct pavements with bitumen used as a binder. Asphalt mixture needs to be mixed at a temperature of 150 to 180 degree Celsius. An asphalt mixing plant is capable of producing up to 800 tonnes asphalt per hour.

Types of Asphalt Mixtures

Hot mix asphalt is produced at a temperature which ranges between 150 and 180 degree Celsius. This is a conventional method of producing asphalt but is highly time consuming.

Warm mix asphalt is produced at a lower temperature of around 20 to 40 degree Celsius. Cold mix asphalt is manufactured without heating the aggregate mixture, this occurs due to the breaking of bitumen emulsion that brakes during compaction or mixing. After the emulsion coat breaks the mixture solidifies forming a cold mixture of asphalt. This mixture is used in paving lightly trafficked roads. Here are seven uses of asphalt that you probably didn’t know.

In Laying Roads

Around 90% of roads are paved with asphalt, they can tolerate high temperature, withstand heavy loads and high speed maneuvers. 

Protecting Farms

Wooden fences that are used to protect farms can be painted with asphalt paint. Asphalt paint is highly durable, waterproof and dries quickly. They can be used both below and above the ground this makes it simpler because farmers can paint the fence prior to planting them, this is less time consuming and minimizes decay caused due to water seepage. Water based asphalt paint is UV resistant and is designed to maintain color for years. It can also be used to paint metal pipes and metallic objects as it prevents corrosion.

Silencing Cars and Trucks

Some vehicle manufacturers use a mixture of asphalt to line body parts which suppress road noise. Cars which are coated with asphalt are less prone to internal vibrations and block outside road noise from coming inside the vehicle. They are also applied to vehicles by fusing or welding them into place. Asphalt coating is sprayed on metal body to protect metallic parts from rust an corrosion.

Asphalt as a Work of Art

Making a mixture of asphalt with dilute liquid bitumen will can create stunning life size monochrome wildlife paintings. This mixture must be diluted carefully to blend in with a special varnish. A Canadian artist Lucas Seaward is famous for his asphalt paintings.

Remove Graffiti off Walls

Graffiti can be a big headache for building owners. In order to remove them for good you can coat a layer of black asphalt paint on the graffiti painted walls. This coat not only acts as paint but also covers the graffiti completely which proves to be a fast, easy and cost effective solution.

Natural Cure

Asphalt can be used as an effective solution to get rid of harmful bacteria on trees by sealing them from wounds and invasive bugs and bacteria. When bitumen is mixed with latex then it forms a paste which can be applied to tree limbs to treat storm damage or graft roots to plant stems.

Asphalt as Finishing Material

Asphalt based compounds are used in a wide range of applications especially in construction operations. These compounds are used instead of tar-paper under wood sliding, brick veneer and fiber cement sliding to provide an outstanding flashing material for doors and windows. You can use asphalt compounds to patch  under roofing materials to prevent leakage.