Bituminous concrete, also known as asphalt, is a popular material used for paving roads, driveways, and parking lots. It is made of stone and aggregate materials held together by bitumen, a by-product of petroleum refining. While it is not as strong as traditional concrete, it offers a smoother and quieter ride and is easy to repair. However, it has negative environmental impacts, including pollution and the release of harmful fumes. Alternative paving techniques can help reduce these effects.
Bituminous concrete is a type of building material used to pave roads, driveways and parking lots. It consists of a mixture of stone and other forms of aggregate materials joined together by a binding agent. This binder is called “bitumen” and is a by-product of petroleum refining. It has a thick, sticky texture like tar when heated, then forms a firm, dense surface once it dries. Asphalt concrete is also widely known as asphalt in many parts of the world.
Despite the name, this material is very different from standard concrete and contains no cement. While most cement-based surfaces are white or gray, asphalt concrete is known for its distinctive black appearance. It is often laid over a base layer of gravel to form new roads and car parks, but it can also be poured over existing concrete to repair or smooth out bumps and voids. Once the asphalt concrete has been poured onto the roadway, the pavers use large paving machines to smooth and compact the surface.
While asphalt pavement doesn’t offer the same strength as traditional concrete, it is still the most popular material for most paving applications. Asphalt concrete is strong enough to withstand years of vehicular traffic and is relatively easy to repair or refinish. It also provides a smoother and quieter ride than concrete surfaces, which helps reduce noise pollution around highways and other busy roads. Asphalt pavement is also fully recyclable, although recycled products may not be as strong as the raw materials. Some manufacturers add recycled tires or glass aggregate to recycled asphalt to increase its strength and resilience.
Many of the drawbacks associated with bituminous concrete relate to its impact on the environment. Asphalt bituminous binders are derived from fossil fuels. Not only are fossil fuels non-renewable and available in limited quantities, they also contribute to pollution in various ways. The fuel-derived process releases toxic fumes into the air, which contribute to poor air quality and global warming.
Asphalt also gives off a distinct smell during and after the paving process. This smell comes from bituminous binders, which get rid of their gases over time to release even more harmful fumes into the air. Rain and stormwater runoff can also cause pollutants to leach from the concrete into area streams and streams. Some of the negative environmental effects of asphalt concrete can be reduced with alternative paving techniques, including reducing the temperature of the hot asphalt before pouring.
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