Asphalt / Bituminous Material

BITUMEN
- road-surfacing material: a mixture of
hydrocarbons derived from petroleum and found in
substances such as asphalt and tar that are used for
road surfacing and roofing

BITUMENS
ASPHALT
- semisolid bituminous substance: cementitious
materials in which the predominant constituent
materials are bitumens
Asphalt
Until the 20th century, the term asphaltum was also
used.

The word is derived from the Ancient

Greek sphaltos.
Asphalt
The primary use (70%) of asphalt is in road
construction, where it is used as the glue or binder
mixed with aggregate particles to create
asphalt concrete. Its other main uses are for
bituminous waterproofing products, including
production of roofing felt and for sealing flat roofs.
Modern Terminology
In British English, "bitumen" is used instead of
"asphalt." The word "asphalt" is instead used to refer
to asphalt concrete, a mixture of
construction aggregate and asphalt itself. Bitumen
mixed with clay was usually called "asphaltum", but
the term is less commonly used today.
Modern Terminology
In Australian English, "bitumen" is often used as the
generic term for road surfaces.

In American English, "asphalt" is equivalent to the

British "bitumen". However, "asphalt" is also
commonly used as a shortened form of "
asphalt concrete" (therefore equivalent to the British
"asphalt" or "tarmac").
TARS and PITCHES
Tar
COAL TAR
- thick black liquid: a thick
black liquid obtained through
the destructive distillation of an
organic substance such as
wood or coal

*produced by the destructive distillation

of bituminous coal called bituminous
coal tar which is most commonly
used tar in pavement construction
TARS and PITCHES

Crude tar
- contains a large amount of water as well as
some fuel oils
- viscous liquid produced at the end of the distillation
process

Pitches
-substance obtained from tar: a dark sticky
substance obtained from tar and used in the building
trade, especially for waterproofing roofs
-liquefied gradually when heated
TYPES OF NATURAL DEPOSIT ASPHALTS

1. Natural Rock Asphalts

2. Native Asphalts (Lake Asphalts)

TYPES OF ASPHALTS

1. Natural Rock Asphalts

- found in many parts of the
world as deposits of
sandstones or limestone filled
with asphalts through
geologic process
TYPES OF ASPHALTS

2. Native Asphalts (lake asphalts)

- bitumens mixed with water, fine siliceous silt,
clay and organic mater (found in Lake Trinidad)
Advantages and Disadvantages of using
Asphalt
 Advantages
Economical
Durable
Safe
Recyclable
Quick and easy to repair
Disadvantages
More maintenance
Prone to crack
Environmental Issue
Require heavy equipment