Asphalt pavement is one of the products that Tri-State Paving works with the most; Tri-State uses it to work on public, commercial, and residential pavement alike. You might have heard it called tarmac, blacktop, macadam, tarmacadam, or just plain asphalt. You probably have seen it all your life. Even so, where does asphalt come from?

Where Does Asphalt Come From?

Asphalt is a sticky substance, also known as bitumen, is a byproduct of crude oil. It is a petroleum “waste” product, in that it is a residual of petroleum oil that cannot produce energy but has a great power in binding materials together.

Many online sources combine asphalt and tar as one and the same, but technically, they are different. Asphalt, in the strictest form, is a petroleum byproduct, while tar is a naturally occurring sticky black liquid in the earth. They have their differences but act and look similar.

Asphalt in History

Asphalt in the technical sense did not appear until the 1800s. However, tar was used as a binder for roads and other structures since ancient times. The first known records of tar in roads dates back to Babylonian times in 615 B.C. during the reign of King Nabopolassar. It continued in use for binding and waterproofing in Greek and Roman times, but saw the first real resurgence during the Renaissance in Europe when Sir Walter Raleigh used tar to patch his ships during an exploration of the New World.

Tar and eventually asphalt grew in use during the Industrial Revolution and in 1870 and beyond in the United States. At the turn of the century, various inventors in the U.S. patented different versions of asphalt pavement.

Asphalt Today

Asphalt pavement is standard forroads,parking lots, anddriveways today. Through various developments, it comes in different types and designs. For instance, residential driveways need fewer pavement layers than busy highways. You’ll also find hot mix, warm mix, and cold patch asphalt, which are applicable to different climates. Asphalt pavement is also one of the most recycled materials in the world, making it a more efficient material than detractors might think. Combined with ground-up stones, asphalt is the binder that makes transportation possible today.

Receive Asphalt Paving Services with Tri-State Paving

Call Tri-State Paving. We’re a seasoned asphalt pavement company based in Maryland and have the experience and knowledge to help you turn your backyard into the perfect retreat quickly and affordably. Our experts will work with you to find a design and layout for the outdoor kitchen and dining area that you’re sure to love for years and years to come.

Our area numbers are:

West Chester: 610.563.9456

Oxford: 610.932.3566

Delaware: 302.757.4100

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Tags: asphalt, asphalt uses, history of asphalt

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 22nd, 2024 at 4:48 pm and is filed under Asphalt Paving. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.