Asphalt concrete (commonly called asphalt,[1]blacktop, or pavement in North America, and tarmac or bitumen macadam in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) is a composite material commonly used to surface roads, parking lots, airports, and the core of embankment dams.[2] Asphalt mixtures have been used in pavement construction since the nineteenth century.[3] It consists of mineral aggregatebound together with bitumen (a substance also independently known as asphalt, pitch, or tar), laid in layers, and compacted.
The American English terms asphalt (or asphaltic) concrete, bituminous asphalt concrete, and bituminous mixture are typically used only in engineering and construction documents, which define concrete as any composite material composed of mineral aggregate adhered with a binder. The abbreviation, AC, is sometimes used for asphalt concrete but can also denote asphalt content or asphalt cement, referring to the liquid asphalt portion of the composite material.
I have been in construction for over 30 years with concrete being a specialty and have never heard or read this. I have found things on wiki that were wrong before, so having first hand experience with both asphalt and concrete, I think someone is smoking a little sumptin sumptin o’r yonder at the wiki farm…
Using the term pavement for both is one thing but the two products are distinctly different…
Asphalt refers to the black, sticky, petroleum-based binder (also called bitumen) derived from crude oil. It’s a semi-solid material used as a binding agent or sealant in various applications, like roofing or waterproofing, but on its own, it’s not a structural material.
Asphalt concrete is a composite material where asphalt (the binder) is mixed with mineral aggregates (sand, gravel, or crushed stone) to create a solid, durable surface. The aggregates give it strength and structure, making it suitable for roads, driveways, and parking lots. The asphalt binder holds the aggregates together, but it’s only about 5-10% of the mix by weight.
In short, asphalt is the glue, while asphalt concrete is the complete, engineered product used in paving. The terms are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation, but technically, asphalt concrete is the finished material.
Yes, asphalt concrete and traditional asphalt paving often refer to the same basic material, but the terms can emphasize different contexts or uses:
1. Asphalt Concrete (AC):
Formal engineering term for the material used in paving.
A mixture of asphalt binder (bitumen) and aggregates (crushed stone, sand, gravel).
Used in technical specs and construction documents.
May refer to specific formulations like dense-graded AC, open-graded AC, or stone matrix asphalt (SMA).
2. Traditional Asphalt Paving:
A common term for roads or surfaces paved with asphalt concrete.
Refers more to the process or application than the material itself.
May also include cold mix or other variants not strictly called “asphalt concrete” in formal specs.
In short: Asphalt concrete is the technical name for the material used in most traditional asphalt paving. The difference is mainly in terminology and context, not composition.
Would you like a quick comparison chart between asphalt concrete and other common paving types like concrete or gravel?
In the commercial building world Asphalt is the hot black stuff! Concrete is the cold wet gray stuff! Curbs, gutters, drive aprons, etc., are made from concrete. Streets, parking lots are often asphalt. Concrete is more durable and can be used for streets and parking lots but it cost more, is more difficult to work with, more labor intensive and slower to apply.
I spent many years working with concrete too. Constructing/repairing water treatment plants, big box stores, hotels, we built the wave pool and lazy river at Hershey Park PA, etc. I had never heard of blacktop or asphalt referred to as concrete.
I agree about woki… umm… wiki being off the farm on many issues. But by definition asphalt could be considered a type of concrete.
Here’s Webster…
Seems that concrete has many definitions.
It’s helpful to have concrete examples of how words are used in context.
Concrete is concrete and blacktop is blacktop. If you mix the two together you now have a composite material that may or may not be an improvement over each.
I agree, but technically blacktop is a common term used for asphalt concrete.
Just as there are many different types/grades/mixes of (traditional) concrete. There are many different types asphalt concrete.
Asphalt Concrete
Asphalt concrete (commonly called asphalt, blacktop or pavement in North America, and tarmac, bitumen macadam, or rolled asphalt in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) is a composite material commonly used on roads, parking lots, airports, and core of embankment dams.
It is a graded mixture of aggregate and filter with asphalt; hot or cold and rolled.
Here we will learn about Asphalt concrete, types of asphalt concretes & much more.
Introduction to Asphalt concrete:
In short, asphalt concrete is a composite material and asphalt used as binder mixed together then molded into layers and compacted.
It is also called special concrete consisting of a mixture of graded concrete and hot asphalt to be applied and spread.
Components of asphaltic concrete:
Careful selection of binders and aggregate.
Volumetric proportioning of ingredients.
Evaluation of the finished products.
Types of Asphalt Concrete:
1.Hot mix asphalt concrete (HMAC or HMA):
HMAC is produced by heating the asphalt binder and drying the aggregates to remove the moisture from it, before mixing.
The mixture is usually collected at about 150 °C for new asphalt, 166 °C for polymer modified asphalt and 95 °C for asphalt cement paving; condensate when the asphalt is sufficiently sizzling.
The HMAC is a type of asphalt commonly used for high traffic pavements of highways, airports, and race tracks.
2.Warm Mix Asphalt Concrete (WMA):
This type of concrete is also produced by adding zeolites, waxes, asphaltic emulsions, or water to the asphaltic binder before mixing.
Such concrete emits less CO2, aerosols, and vapour, the lower laying temperature furthers the rapid availability of the floor to be used, which is extra advantageous for construction sites with vital time schedules.
Adding additives such as zeolites, waxes, and asphalt emulsions to hot mixed asphalt can cause easy condensation and allow for cold weather or longer stays.
3.Cold mix asphalt concrete:
This cold mix asphalt concrete is produced by blending the asphalts in water with the soap as essential before mixing with the aggregates.
When concrete is in a blended state, asphalts is less viscous and the mixture becomes easier to work and compact.
Cold mixes are commonly used as batching materials for service roads subject to low traffic.
4.Cut-back asphalt concrete:
Cut back asphalt concrete is produced by dissolving the binder in kerosene or other lighter fraction of petroleum before mixing with the aggregate.
When it is in the dissolved state, the asphalt is much less viscous and the mixture turns into simpler to work.
After inserting the mixture down, the lighter fraction evaporates.
This increases pollution from volatile organic compounds present in the volatile fraction, so the cut-off asphalt has been largely replaced by emulsion of asphalt.
5. Mastic asphalt concrete or sheet Asphalt:
Mastic concrete is formed by heating exhausting grade blown bitumen in a mixer until it has change into a viscous liquid after which the aggregate mix is added.
The bitumen aggregate mixture is matured for about 6 to 7 hours as soon as it is prepared, the mastic asphalt mixer is taken to the highway construction work.
It is normally positioned to a thickness of about 20- 30 mm for pavement and highway applications and a thickness of 10 mm for flooring or rooftop.
Rarely, an additive such as polymers and ant stripping agents can be added to improve the properties of the final product.
6. Natural asphalt concrete:
Natural asphalt concrete might be produced from the bituminous rock which is found naturally in some parts of the world.
Advantages of Asphalt Concrete:
Asphalt concrete is less expensive than concrete, takes less time to build a road.
This thick asphalt structure is long-lasting and only requires surface maintenance.
They are fast and cost-efficient, especially for city and country roads.
Disadvantages of Asphalt Concrete:
Asphalt concrete is less durable and becomes softer in hot climates.
When the asphalt is not laid properly, it causes cracks and issues.
The construction method requires heavy equipment to be installed, no matter what type of asphalt has been used.
