viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. Asphalt concrete pavement mixes are typically composed of 5% asphalt cement and 95% aggregates (stone, sand, and gravel). Due to its highly viscous nature, asphalt cement must be heated so it can be mixed with the aggregates at the asphalt mixing facility. Bitumen is actually the liquid binder that holds asphalt together. The term bitumen is often mistakenly used to describe asphalt.
Asphalt is produced in a plant that heats, dries and mixes
aggregate, bitumen and sand into a composite mix. The components of asphalt include four main classes of compounds: • Naphthalene • Polar Aromatics • Saturated Hydrocarbons • Asphaltenes The following acute (short-term) health effects may occur immediately or shortly after exposure to Asphalt: * Asphalt fumes can irritate the eyes on contact. *Breathing Asphalt fumes can irritate the nose, throat and lungs causing coughing, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. • Porous Asphalt • Perpetual Pavement • Quiet Pavement • Warm-Mix Asphalt • Thin Overlays This type of asphalt is used in parking lots to enable water to drain through the pavement. Perpetual pavement is a combination of asphalt and the multi-layer paving design process. They are durable and long-lasting. Paving roads with asphalt significantly reduces the noise inside and outside of homes and businesses. is produced the same way that hot-mix asphalt is, except it is 50-100 degrees Fahrenheit lower. Thin overlays improve ride quality and reduce pavement distress, noise levels, and life-cycle costs. • Throw-and-roll • Semi-Permanent Patches • Spray Injection Method • Full-Depth Patching This is a temporary patching technique in which liquid asphalt is filled into a hole and then rolled over. It is typically done in winter or adverse weather conditions when a “quick fix” or emergency patch is required. It may be applied in layers and starts to solidify as it reacts with air. Alonger-lasting solution, this method requires proper surface preparation. Water and debris are first removed with the help of a broom or air compressor after which the area to be patched is cut back with a hand tool or power equipment. The prepared hole is then filled with the patching mix and compacted with a roller. In this method, special truck-mounted equipment is used to first blow out water and debris from the crack or pothole, after which aggregate and emulsion will be injected into it. Since the injection is done at high-pressure, no compaction is required. This asphalt patching technique may be ideal in adverse conditions and is often preferred to the temporary throw-and-roll method. Considered a permanent repair method, this technique involves excavating the patching area to the depth of 4 inches or more and extending at least one foot into the surrounding area in order to provider firmer support. A tack coat is applied prior to the asphalt mix followed by a backfill for proper bonding.