What are the different varieties of asphalt (bitumen) and their characteristics?
Asphalt was originally known as bitumen. It is a mineral resulting from various components, almost all-natural. It has numerous properties that allow the elaboration of many products used in the construction of land routes for automobiles and pedestrians.
It is mixed with sand or gravel to pave roads, as well as being used to coat and waterproof roofs, walls, and ducts. Among the types of roads in which asphalt is used, the following stand out: expressways, primary roads, secondary roads, local streets, alleys, and walkways.
In ancient times, it was used in a raw and natural way, being natural asphalts produced from petroleum. Generally, it was used as a waterproofing and binding agent.
Asphalt is colloidal in nature. The chemical composition contemplates several chains of molecules. These are primarily made up of carbon, sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and complexes of vanadium, nickel, iron, calcium, and magnesium.
CHARACTERISTICS OF ASPHALT
It is liquid, viscous, black, or dark gray in color. The basic compounds are hydrocarbons and derivatives. In addition, it is a super waterproof material, adherent, and ideal for building pavements. Its consistency depends on the temperature. Regarding durability, its properties remain the same despite time and the effects of aging elements.
Another characteristic is viscosity. When the temperature is higher, the viscosity is lower. A capillary viscometer is used to measure it. It has a lot of elasticity, so it recovers its shape when the action that transforms it is eliminated. Resists high temperatures.
APPLICATIONS
Asphalt has multiple applications, its most frequent uses being the following:
● Paving: one of the most important uses is in the construction of flexible pavements. It constitutes the binding material in the preparation of the asphalt folders required for such pavements.
● Coatings: It is very suitable for coating ceilings and other surfaces. Also, for buried channels and dams in which the impermeable layer is achieved without major economic investment using asphalt.
● Waterproofing: on land routes such as highways, asphalt is very useful for waterproofing structures and filling concrete pavements. Likewise, it is often used to waterproof structures in different civil works, dikes, and canals. It is a raw material for asphalt emulsions.
● Hydraulic structures: in these works, it is mainly used to fill joints in the construction of canals. In addition, the use of asphalt prevents water loss, reduces friction on structures, and protects against erosion.
TYPES OF ASPHALT
Asphalt can be found in various ways, generating different classifications. Some of the best known are the following:
● In a pure form or pure asphalt: it is associated with mineral matter and hard asphaltites. It is used in the production of emulsifying asphalt for highways and streets. It serves as a binder, a waterproofing agent, and as a paving material. It is considered in oil refineries as a solid by-product. It can be steam refined and is easy to exploit.
● Asphalts associated with mineral matter: it is well suited to mixtures containing tar, reducing its volatility. It remains stable in the face of temperature increases, therefore it must be maneuvered in places with high temperatures. Its greatest use is in paving and manufacturing asphalt materials for roofing, waterproofing products, lining ducts, pipes, and the like.
● Hard asphaltites: it is a very pure natural asphalt whose characteristics allow its easy recognition, among them its color, low weight, presence of carbon, and low sulfur. It can be combined with waxes to create stable compounds, which other natural asphalts cannot. With them, wood paints, black varnishes, and resins are produced. Also, thermoplastic items, drying oils, brake linings, and mastic floors.
THE MOST FLEXIBLE
Liquid asphalt: it is a viscous asphalt indicated to cover damaged surfaces with great porosity, to waterproof, or as an anti-corrosive. It is used in concrete plates, inroads to be sealed, and asphalt pavements. It has organic solvents, good flexibility, and adherence capacity. It is used for asphalt repair in Houston.
To apply the asphalt, the surface is cleaned very well, leaving it free of dust or other substances and impurities such as grease that prevent adequate adherence. Should a dry finish be achieved, it can be applied cold using a brush, brush or spray equipment.
Plastic Asphalt: It is a product with a pasty consistency and great elasticity because it is formulated based on asphalt, minerals, and fiber. It has a high viscosity and excellent elasticity. With it, horizontal surfaces are waterproofed.
It is indicated for splicing fiberglass veils, as an adhesive material and for leveling surfaces or filling them due to irregularities. For its application, it is previously checked that the surface is completely clean and dry.
ASPHALT PROCESSES
This substance consists of several improvement processes. They are chemical process, which includes polymerization, which is the formation of larger molecules, and oxidation. Physical-chemical process, where the volatilization or vaporization of the lighter components stands out.
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