Many of us have seen the long stretches of black asphalt roads which are so popular in some parts of the world. Asphalt is commonly used to pave rural or suburban roads, especially in the United States and Great Britain. In the U.S., asphalt is often called pavement or blacktop, while, in Ireland and Great Britain, it is known as bitumen macadam. Asphalt is a composite which is typically used to pave parking lots, surface roads and airports. The material combines mineral aggregates that are bound together with asphalt. The material is often mixed on site using a mobile asphalt batch mixing plant.
The material is laid on the surface in layers and then compacted using heavy duty machinery. This is hot, messy work, but provides a good and durable surface. There are several types of asphalt mixtures provided by many asphalt plant manufacturers, and the one used will depend upon the type of surface.
Hot mix asphalt or hot mix asphalt concrete is one of the most commonly used forms of asphalt. To produce this mix, users may need the help of hot asphalt mixing plant, and the asphalt binder is heated until its viscosity decreases. This same heating process also dries the aggregate making it easier to mix. The asphalt mixture must remain hot during application so that it can be compacted before it cools. In many places, this means that asphalt paving can only be done in the summer months. This is the type of asphalt normally used on pavements with high traffic volume, including race tracks, highways and airports.
Warm mix asphalt or warm mix asphalt concrete uses waxes, zeolites and asphalt emulsions to help bind the material. This process allows the mixture to be used in lower temperatures, leading the a decreased use of fossil fuels. The process also releases fewer aerosols, carbon dioxide and vapors into the air. When this type of asphalt is used, working conditions are much improved and more road can be paved during the same amount of time. Using a mobile asphalt mixing plant can help keep this material warm and ready to be laid, which can also help to speed up the process. If you want find a reliable asphalt plant, please click this: http://asphaltmixingplants.net/mobile-asphalt-plant-sale/.
Cold mix asphalt or cold mix asphalt concrete is produced using water as the emulsifying agent. This mixture is easy to work with because it is less viscous and is commonly used to do repairs and make patches in an existing road.
Cut-back asphalt or cut-back asphalt concrete is made when the binder is dissolved in kerosene and then mixed with the aggregate. This type of asphalt is also easier to work with and compact. This type of asphalt is typically not used today because of environmental concerns.
Each of these different types of asphalt has different characteristics, such as portable asphalt plants, small asphalt plant and so on. Some are more durable and resistant to tire wear while others help reduce noise. To determine the appropriate asphalt to use, engineers should consider the volume of traffic, environment and necessary performance requirements.
Asphalt does not last forever and can degrade over time. This deterioration can include potholes, crocodile cracking, raveling, rutting, bleeding, and upheaval. Cold weather is especially hard on asphalt pavement. The construction of asphalt is also a factor in how long it lasts and how often it must be repaired.