Asphalt is a prevalent material used in today’s modern infrastructure, playing a vital role in paving roads and parking lots. Understanding how asphalt is made can deepen an appreciation for its utility and provide insight into how asphalt construction and repair solutions can be effective in its many uses. During this blog, we will explore how asphalt is made and why its composition is crucial for long-lasting repairs.
What is asphalt?
Asphalt is a sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. The Asphalt part is a binder of aggregates like crushed stone, sand, and gravel to form Asphaltic Concrete. However, we normally refer to the final form as asphalt.
The Asphalt Production Process
- Crude Oil Refinement: Asphalt starts its journey as crude oil. During the refinement, crude oil is heated in a distillation tower. This part separates it into different components at different boiling points. The heavier components will be processed for asphalt extraction.
- Bitumen Production: The heavy residue left after the crude oil distillation process is further refined to create bitumen. This process may also include removing impurities and adjusting the material’s viscosity.
- Mixing with Aggregates: When the Bitumen is prepared, the aggregates will be combined with the asphalt. The exact composition and mixture will depend on the intended use of the finished Asphalt. For example:
- Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA): Heated and mixed at high temperatures. This mix is used in Asphalt Parking Lot Construction projects and Asphalt Road Paving.
- Cold Mix Asphalt: This mixture is used for minor repairs and doesn’t require heating. This makes it a very convenient solution for emergency asphalt repair jobs.
- Quality Control: Asphalt has been tested and ensured to meet all specific standards for durability, flexibility, and resistance to environmental factors.
The Role of Asphalt in Repairs
Understanding how asphalt is made will help you grasp why certain mixtures are better for specific applications. For example, hot Mix provides excellent durability for long-term projects such as Asphalt Parking Lots and Roads, while cold mix is perfectly fine for pothole and crack repair.
Common Asphalt Repair Techniques
- Pothole Patching: McConnell & Associates can tackle your asphalt repair needs, such as potholes. Coming from the freeze-thaw cycle, potholes can be a significant burden on your asphalt surfaces.
- Large Patch Repair: If there is a section of asphalt bad enough to warrant a large patch job, we will mill up that part of the parking lot and then use the Hot Mix Asphalt to place in a brand new portion of Asphalt.
Although there are asphalt repair options, some things are beyond repair. If this is the case, we recommend asphalt replacement for your parking lot or roadway.
Sustainable Practices in Asphalt Repair
Modern advancements have introduced eco-friendly methods, such as recycling old asphalt into new mixtures. This not only reduces waste but also lowers production costs, making sustainable asphalt repair an attractive option for many municipalities and contractors. Asphalt is in fact the most recycled material in the United States!
If you would like to schedule a FREE evaluation of your asphalt, reach out to us at (816) 842-6066 or find us online at mcconnellassociates.org. Also, check out our listing in the NKC Business Council.
