Asphalt aggregate is made up of rock and gravel fragments, used to add strength to asphalt concrete or create a stable foundation. It is usually produced in quarries near populated areas and sorted by size. Recycled asphalt aggregate is often less expensive and helps reduce landfill waste.
Asphalt aggregate is made up of rock and gravel fragments typically seen in a paved or “tarmac” surface. Some standard components of asphalt aggregate include sand, gravel, crushed stone and slag. These aggregates not only add strength to the finished asphalt concrete, but are also used without the asphalt mix to create a stable foundation upon which roads, railroad tracks and buildings are built.
Asphalt aggregate is usually produced in rock quarries which are located near the most densely populated areas. Depending on the geological composition of the area, the aggregate is usually composed of granite, marble, limestone or some other rock quality stone. In areas that do not have mineral deposits of these types of stone, natural sand and gravel are often quarried and used as aggregate.
To the untrained eye, the asphalt might look like a chaotic mess of debris, but that’s not the case at all. Much research and development has gone into creating the right mix of asphalt aggregates for any given application. Aggregate is sorted and graded by size, and the amounts and sizes used in an asphalt mix can vary from one type of job to another.
A hot mixed asphalt (HMA), which is typically used for roadways and parking lots, is up to 95% asphalt aggregate by weight. The majority of aggregate in the mix is usually coarse or large, followed by crushed stone and gravel. The remaining aggregate is made up of fillers, such as sand.
Many construction companies and local governments have saved money and helped the environment by using recycled asphalt aggregate. Depending on local codes and regulations, recycled aggregate could come from a variety of locations. Some sources of recycled aggregate include used asphalt pavement that has been reclaimed during road construction or repairs, concrete that has been rescued from demolished buildings, and even some types of recycled plastics. The largest source of recycled asphalt aggregates is slag from blast furnaces and steel mills.
Recycled aggregate is often less expensive, because it can be made on-site with portable crushers and aggregate washers. It also makes efficient use of old aggregate that would otherwise end up in landfills. In some areas, the use of recycled aggregates has helped local governments reduce the disposal rate by up to 50%. Many areas do not allow using recycled aggregates to completely replace traditional asphalt aggregates because they produce lower quality asphalt, but even partial use of recycled aggregates can conserve natural resources.
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